Talk to desertscout. It seems like he knows a lot about the HF welders.
Hello All, I'm new to the forum, and wanted to put in my first post.
I've gone through the threads pertaining to the HF mig welder performance mods, and have some questions regarding possible mods to my new Chicago Electric mig 180 and mig 90, (the "black" boxes)
Regarding the mig 180;
So far I'm happy with the 180's performance, except for the wire feed and torch length. The feed seems underpowered and "choppy", (unless the torch is laid out almost perfectly straight.)
The torch length is also ridiculously short at 6 ft.
Is there anyway of increasing the power/performance of the drive system?
I've read posts about doing the full 100,000uf cap/resistor mod to similar units to increase power, and at the same time, adding a cap and rectifier on the feed motor. Is the mod to the feed motor done as a necessity because adding the larger 100,000uf cap affects the drive? If I'm happy with output performance, can I skip doing the big cap mod and only do the modifications to the feed motor? Or do they go together?
Since the drive assy/motor seems to be one sealed unit, it doesn't appear that I can just remove and upgrade the drive motor?
Also, against my better judgement, I ordered a new 10ft torch to swap with the 6ft one. I'm definitely afraid, (and unfortunately, pretty confident) that the drive performance will be even worse.
Does anyone have any ideas?
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Regarding the mig 90;
Can I do a cap mod to this machine to increase output performance? (I use it only for flux core welding).
If so, what size cap would I use?
(If I know what I'm doing, attached should be the schematics for both machines. The first one shown should be the 90, the other is the 180).
Any help would certainly be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Talk to desertscout. It seems like he knows a lot about the HF welders.
Lincoln Pro Mig 180
HF Stick/Tig Inverter Welder
Lincoln AC225s
The 90 is AC only. I don't think you can use caps for AC.
In my opinion (I have an older blue 90) it is never worth the trouble to modify a 90 amp AC welder.
I bought a Century 135 (110 volt, DC, 15 years old) welder off Craigslist. $145. It is better than any anything that a successfully modded HF 90 might become.
In summary - sell the 90 and apply the proceeds to something better. Or just accept what it is.
Do you even need another welder if you have the 180? It can be adjusted to the lower settings that the 90 doesn't have.
Thanks,
The 90 is for doing work in the field only. (Its a backup for my aging Lincoln 100).
The 180 is for solid wire/in shop use.
automotive body panel...037 thick....hf mig, enjoy...
Charl
The wire drive on the 180 is VERY touchy. If you don't have the tension set just right on the feed and the wire spool its horrible. I adjust mine with the spool loose and, with a 3- 4" stick out it should bend the wire when it strikes wood and continue to feed. From that point I go 1/4 turn more on the tension. Then I adjust the spool tension at wire speed 10 so it wont birds nest. Cap and rectifier is not used on the 180's wire feed motor, that was used on the older machines to control the speed and after run. So there is just the 100,000uf cap mod for it, I run mine without the cap on most of the time, unless I cant get the settings correct. The cap mod on the 180 gives you 12 power settings instead of 6, so you can fine tune it more, the 180 has a pretty stable arch already. The cap adds about 22-25% power output on the 180 on every setting, so there is a step in between the settings that works very well on the lower 3 settings, not so much on the next 2, but boost output to around 200-225 amps on the highest setting.
They use a Tweeco style torch with the gas switch inside the head. I have not changed mine yet, but its in the plans for the future.
HF 180 amp/240 volt Mig (cap mod)
1987 Harley FLHTP (project)
1990 F350 XLT Lariat S/C dually
1990 S&S 11SC Cabover Camper
2011 Ford Ranger S/C XLT
Got these DC controllers off ebay.
Smoothed out wire feed, like cutting butter with a hot knife.
Just shove the old controller over, put in new.
Should have done this a year ago!!
Charl
New controller wired up.
Charl
I want one! How do I find that controller on Ebay?
I just yanked a 100,000uf 40v electrolytic capacitor out of a battery charger. It would be perfect for a MIG mod if any one needs one I will let it go cheap.
old Miller spectrum 625
Lincoln SP-135 T, CO2+0.025 wire
Miller model 250 and WP-18V torch
Craftsman 100amp AC/DC and WP-17V torch
Century 115-004 HF arc stabilizer
Home made 4 transformer spot welder
Home made alternator welder
Similar, I have access to a number of used 30,000uf 100volt (and similar) caps. Is there any demand for these?
What should I ask if I put them on ebay?
30,000uf is a little small for a mig but beats the hell out of nothing.
My Lincoln (thats puts down flawless welds) has around 68,000 or 70,000 uf.
Only problem is a 100v cap might be a little big, is it about the size of a soup or soda can?
old Miller spectrum 625
Lincoln SP-135 T, CO2+0.025 wire
Miller model 250 and WP-18V torch
Craftsman 100amp AC/DC and WP-17V torch
Century 115-004 HF arc stabilizer
Home made 4 transformer spot welder
Home made alternator welder
Bigger, say 3 inch diameter and 6 inches tall. Maybe a little less. That's a rough estimate from memory.
I think caps in parallel show the sum of the uf, no?
A friend of mine bids surplus auctions and these are from some kind of dismantled industrial gear, so top quality but maybe 1990's dates. My first impulse was to buy them for resale (like I did long ago with his Y2K-retired stuff) but then I wondered if there is any market for them. I don't think he's sold one over the past several months.
Any ideas for reasonable Ebay asking price?
Thanks for the info "Desertscout".
I think I'm OK with the welding temp on my 180. Typically I weld bronze sheet using .030-.035 silicon bronze wire, so adding more heat wont do me much good. My settings are - Heat "C"/Wire speed 10. If I go any hotter, I wont have the wire speed to match.
My issue is primarily with the wire feed, (wire feed motor/controller).
Maybe I can just get a new controller, (like the one "xmancharl" picked up)?
"Xmancharl" - Have you found that your new controller adds more power to the feed motor? More RPMs?
I expect to receive my new 10ft torch tomorrow, and I'm anxious to see how it works with the stock 180 feed system.
(The primary machine I use for bronze welding is my trusty 14 yr old Millermatic 185, but I picked up the HF 180 so I can have 2 running bronze at the same time.)
Millermatic 185 w/ Spoolgun
Lincoln Powermig 215
Lincoln SP 100
Hypertherm PowerMax 1000
Propane Forge
50lb Power Hammer
Ellis Band Saw
Chicago Electric Mig 180
Chicago Electric Mig 90 (flux core)
old Miller spectrum 625
Lincoln SP-135 T, CO2+0.025 wire
Miller model 250 and WP-18V torch
Craftsman 100amp AC/DC and WP-17V torch
Century 115-004 HF arc stabilizer
Home made 4 transformer spot welder
Home made alternator welder
Please let me know which torch you ordered to get the 10' leads, and who from, and the price, and how it works for you..
I have the black 180 amp.. Works fine.. I have only had feed issues one time, when stretching the torch lead, and crimping it at the machine and at the torch..
I set mine according to the manual, same as desertscout mentioned above.. So far, no issues.. Seems like it would handle a 10' lead..
I would like to try one... I bought the warranty. They said it is a repair warranty, but, HF does not stock parts for it, so, it will turn into a replacement warranty.
(NOTE: They use Standard parts you can find on ebay if you measure yours and look for them-The only thing I have not found is the liner, but, that is only because I have not pulled the HF apart to see what ends it has on it). The rest I have located.
And, if you get a replacement, you can buy another warranty on that machine.. At $49.99, it's not bad for another 2 years, of course if you make it that far... I am totally happy with mine, discount the 6' leads.. Their Plasma cutter is a "Wow" machine for the money.. I use my regularly, and I am still nursing the second tip that came with it.
They last longer than any other I have used.. Had three Longevity plasma cutters (trying to get one that worked)... They never worked.. Right out of the box, junk. Had 3 units. The 518D, the Cut50 and Weldall 160PI.. Also had a Generator.. DOA after 15 minutes of running. Paid $200 shipping to get another. More problems than the first.
Hey, Longevity welders last a long time,,,,,, If you put them in the back of the shop, and don't use them.
I bought the 10 ft torch on ebay.
You can look up part number (81295B), it should pop up.
The only issue is its not terribly cheap at $80.00. I really need the length, so I don't mind too much.
I'll let you know how it works.
Millermatic 185 w/ Spoolgun
Lincoln Powermig 215
Lincoln SP 100
Hypertherm PowerMax 1000
Propane Forge
50lb Power Hammer
Ellis Band Saw
Chicago Electric Mig 180
Chicago Electric Mig 90 (flux core)
I chopped up a broken battery charger and tooks its digital volt meter which has a range of 5 to 50 volts.
I wired it to the capacitor. Since my Lincoln has a hot gun only when the trigger there is no voltage reading on the meter untill the trigger is pulled. A fair trade.
I got the idea for the meter install from one of the HF modders around here.
Last edited by mad welder 4; 02-20-2014 at 11:06 PM.
old Miller spectrum 625
Lincoln SP-135 T, CO2+0.025 wire
Miller model 250 and WP-18V torch
Craftsman 100amp AC/DC and WP-17V torch
Century 115-004 HF arc stabilizer
Home made 4 transformer spot welder
Home made alternator welder
Looks like the same one USAWeld is selling.. ebay item #171163519307
They say you will have to change some connectors for the trigger...
If you don't mind, when you take the machine apart, take a picture of what you have, and do behind the feed mechanism.. I have not pulled the top of my box off yet.. Should be pretty simple, but, I have not seen the connectors on the end of the stinger yet.. Probably in the other side of the box without the flip cover.
Thanks... Very interested.. The extra 4' would do me a lot of good also.
I really like my HF 180 Amp. Shifted from straight Argon to 75/25 Argon/CO2 today.. Fixing to try it out. In the process of building a cart for the HF Plasma and Mig Machines..
Also trying several brands of wire.. So far, not much difference between the name brands and import wire.
I've found the Italian made solid wire from HF to work just fine...there flux core isn't so great though.
HF 180 amp/240 volt Mig (cap mod)
1987 Harley FLHTP (project)
1990 F350 XLT Lariat S/C dually
1990 S&S 11SC Cabover Camper
2011 Ford Ranger S/C XLT
I havent tried hf wirebut I did try Washington alloy solid wire and did not like it.
I have stuck with solid lincoln wire, you can find it any where.
old Miller spectrum 625
Lincoln SP-135 T, CO2+0.025 wire
Miller model 250 and WP-18V torch
Craftsman 100amp AC/DC and WP-17V torch
Century 115-004 HF arc stabilizer
Home made 4 transformer spot welder
Home made alternator welder
Welding, suddenly wire froze...an example of hf wire, couple of bad snags, wires where crossed under during winding, Snipped wires, started again, froze, snipped wires...
Never had that happen with Lincoln wire.
That little wire feed motor, 6 to 18 volts stock. With mod, 6 to 24 volts. The motor is the problem. Might
change it out for a 24 volt, miller. 180 mig does okay.
Charl