Lincoln Pro 180 Mig Welder.

[weldaholic]

Hi, new to the forum. Thought I would start off with asking about this welder ,the Lincoln 180 Pro Mig Welder. I have a chance to buy this welder at a very good price ,still new in the box. Spent many years ,actually over 43 in the steel fabrication business . Now retired . Been around a lot of welding. So pretty familiar with how to use a mig gun.

My question anyone have any thoughts about this welder. Can't find anything too negative about it. It will certainly do any home projects I have. I currently have an old Miller Thunderbolt 225 amp stick welder, been a great welder, but thought I would get a wire feeder ,and make things a little easier. a little less clean up etc. Thanks

[ccawgc]

Its a Light duty welder. only 20% duty cycle at full output.
2 minutes on 8 minutes off. Should weld nice. don't pull the welder with the miggun.
The miggun will come apart. other wise it will weld a long time.
You can take the code number to Lincoln's web site and down load the owner's manual if you need one.

[Dean Mott]

I think the Hobart 210 from tractor supply is close to the same price new


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[Welder Dave]

Depending on the price it could be a decent machine to consider but it is a box store machine and not built as durable as the industrial Lincoln models. It's made for a lower price point and may use different consumables.

[weldaholic]

Its a Light duty welder. only 20% duty cycle at full output.
2 minutes on 8 minutes off. Should weld nice. don't pull the welder with the miggun.
The miggun will come apart. other wise it will weld a long time.
You can take the code number to Lincoln's web site and down load the owner's manual if you need one.

Thanks, I believe its 30% at 130 amps, so 20% sounds right at 180. Not familiar with duty cycle ,have never welded with one that you had to worry about weld time, just weld. My 225 miller stick welder I would assume has a duty cycle then. I have never welded long enough with it to see, just short welds here ,and there. I will have to check that . This Lincoln is actually new in the box, never opened ,so everything should be there manual etc.

[weldaholic]

I think the Hobart 210 from tractor supply is close to the same price new


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Thanks . I will check them out .

[weldaholic]

Depending on the price it could be a decent machine to consider but it is a box store machine and not built as durable as the industrial Lincoln models. It's made for a lower price point and may use different consumables.

Thanks .After researching them I see the 180 Pro is sold at Lowes, and the 180 weld Pak is sold at Home Depot. Both being the same welder ,and same price pretty much.

[Greghen]

Lincoln has many different models of the 140 and the 180 level machines. they have the home Depot retail level models as well as the " professional models ". Most of the differences in the quality of the internal components as well as the difference between the drive system being made from plastic or cast or machine metal. Durability reliability and longevity are all big factors in the difference between the price tags.
Check out the machines closely internally before deciding just on price.

[tapwelder]

Owned the powermig 180c for 12 yrs. No complaints about performance. I cannot recall complaints about the pro-mig or weld pak 180. The tapped voltage setting is the noticeable difference. However, I use a larger tapped machine and have never missed the continuous voltage setting of my 180C.

Probably worth purchasing if the price is right. Are those dual input voltage?

Good luck

[Broccoli1]

The Retail Lincoln 180's have a metal drive system.


The only difference between a LWS Lincoln 180 and a Retail model is the tapped vs Continuous voltage selection.

[weldaholic]

Owned the powermig 180c for 12 yrs. No complaints about performance. I cannot recall complaints about the pro-mig or weld pak 180. The tapped voltage setting is the noticeable difference. However, I use a larger tapped machine and have never missed the continuous voltage setting of my 180C.

Probably worth purchasing if the price is right. Are those dual input voltage?

Good luck

They are dual input voltage . I am wired in my garage with a 40 amp 220 plug for my Miller 225, so I should be good to go, they have same style plug .

The price is definitely right , its never been out of the box, and he wants $550, they retail right at $700, plus tax. May catch them onsale ,but I have searched the internet ,and haven't seen any sales so far. My only issue is warranty, doubtful I will have one.

[tapwelder]

As suggested, get the code and call Lincoln to see if any issues with that batch. Early runs may have issues.

[weldaholic]

As suggested, get the code and call Lincoln to see if any issues with that batch. Early runs may have issues.

Not sure what you mean ,the code ??

[weldaholic]

As suggested, get the code and call Lincoln to see if any issues with that batch. Early runs may have issues.

Early runs, I am thinking this a pretty new batch, being it never had the box opened yet . You are thinking this welder may have been made years ago ??

[Broccoli1]

I see the 180 "Still in Box" on CL all the time. $550-650


The Pro Mig 180 will serve you well.

"Durable cast aluminum gear box delivers added drive torque and quiet operation."

https://www.lincolnelectric.com/asse...481-1/e727.pdf

[weldaholic]

I see the 180 "Still in Box" on CL all the time. $550-650


The Pro Mig 180 will serve you well.

"Durable cast aluminum gear box delivers added drive torque and quiet operation."

https://www.lincolnelectric.com/asse...481-1/e727.pdf

Thanks, haven't heard anything too negative about them . The $550 seems okay to me, considering they go for around $700. Any upgrade is going to be close to $900, and a welder I really don't need for my use. So I'm thinking the same , it will serve me well .

[tapwelder]

I dont know. My 180 was purchased new and returned before the first weld with leaking power lug. My new 210 had known issues, lincoln released expecting to consumers to use the warranty. My shipped spool gun was missing parts.

The spool gun and 180 were taken care on by Lincoln. I sold the 210 with warranty and disclosure of the issue.

Lincoln does track/record common issues. Could be new-old inventory?

[weldaholic]

I dont know. My 180 was purchased new and returned before the first weld with leaking power lug. My new 210 had known issues, lincoln released expecting to consumers to use the warranty. My shipped spool gun was missing parts.

The spool gun and 180 were taken care on by Lincoln. I sold the 210 with warranty and disclosure of the issue.

Lincoln does track/record common issues. Could be new-old inventory?

Its sitting in my garage, , it was still packaged with the shipping bands around it. There is a date on the warranty info of May 2018, so it appears it is new old inventory. Everything is there, and undamaged. Not a scuff mark even on the box. So its never been mishandled it appears. I'll register it, and see what happens . I will report back in a day or two, I'll fire it up ,and see how it welds.

[tapwelder]

Cool, Isn't it still in warranty?

[weldaholic]

Cool, Isn't it still in warranty?

I assume it is ,I registered it online with Lincoln.

[ccawgc]

Warranty will depend on who the seller is. If it is an authorized Lincoln distributor and the welder has never been sold before. It will have the full three year warranty. The sales receipt will be your key to warranty repairs. Try to get serial number preprinted on it. Not hand written. If the seller is a private party then the warranty expires 3 years from the date of manufacture. Look at the serial number the date is clearly there. first two digits are the country / plant code M3 is mexico plant 3.
Next two are the year 18 would be 2018, next two are the month. 08 would be August. M31808xxxxx. Technically The warranty is to the first buyer but nobody asks
if the welder is in by serial number. Long as the welder is in by serial number Lincoln has always honored the warranty.

[weldaholic]

Warranty will depend on who the seller is. If it is an authorized Lincoln distributor and the welder has never been sold before. It will have the full three year warranty. The sales receipt will be your key to warranty repairs. Try to get serial number preprinted on it. Not hand written. If the seller is a private party then the warranty expires 3 years from the date of manufacture. Look at the serial number the date is clearly there. first two digits are the country / plant code M3 is mexico plant 3.
Next two are the year 18 would be 2018, next two are the month. 08 would be August. M31808xxxxx. Technically The warranty is to the first buyer but nobody asks
if the welder is in by serial number. Long as the welder is in by serial number Lincoln has always honored the warranty.

Thanks , Its a private party, but as said its never been out of the box . Well it appears I got a pretty new machine M32005xxxxx . May 2020 so I assume I have only lost about three months of warranty ,and its been registered yesterday.

[weldaholic]

Maybe someone can give me some advice on weld wire before I invest in a bottle of gas. I am going to try the flux core wire that came with it to see how it welds. Pretty much everything I will weld is going to be 3/16 -1/4. The project I have started with my old Miller 225 is 1/8, and 3/16. Only experience I have with wire is .045 mig wire ,and straight co2, and dual shield 1/16 ,same co2. Never have welded with a flux core wire without gas. Some applications when I was working we used an Argon mix at times.

[tapwelder]

Only issue I had with flux core was cleaning post weld spatter and flux can be nuisance, if cosmetics will be a factor. It is comparable to and versatile like 6011 rod. Also, there is difficulty welding thin material. It is a more expensive operation than MIG after setup.

If the machine were lighter I would use flux core for field repair in lieu of stick weld.

[Broccoli1]

.030 solid wire is perfect match for that machine.


I'm a fan of using straight CO2. I get acceptable results and I certainly enjoy the portability of a 20lb CO2 cylinder instead of a 125CF mixed gas cylinder when I have to exchange bottles.

a 20lb CO2 tank yields about 175 CF of shielding gas.