[Hybrid]

Ok so I've done the call around and it's going to cost me at least $600 to get the transformer of my Unimig 200 either rewound or replaced. It's had a very easy life and I'm pretty disappointed it shorted the windings after such a short amount of actual usage time. What are peoples thoughts? Should I pay the $600 or buy a different brand and scrap this one.

On a side note has anyone had any luck rewinding their own transformers? The windings haven't even melted through. They're just shorting across the laquer is my guess. Or anyone keen to do a cash job rewind in the Gold Coast/ Brisbane Area?

Cheers

[BlueSuzy]

600 is more than half for a new unimig!

I think i would buy a new one, and sell the old one for parts/ebay

[Hybrid]

Screw it. I need one pretty quick anyway so I'll just buy. Can someone tell me if there's any real difference between the two Lincoln 180's below. The cheaper second one is old stock (2009).

http://www.machines4u.com.au/view/adver ... 80C/16122/

http://www.machines4u.com.au/view/adver ... -180/4321/

Cheers

[3cyl]

You sure it's the transformer? The rarest of faults! Did you try blowing it out with the covers off and leaving it in the sun? I'd prefer the Lincoln but hate to see you buy a new mig if you don't need to. Sure it isn't just a shorted diode?
The 180s are the current model, mine was $1000 last year through a welding shop in Bris. Good machine.

[Hybrid]

Yeah it is unfortunately. I pulled the covers and watched the windings arc before tripping the breaker. You can see the burn marks and slight melting. It seems to have happened where the insulator was folded up against the windings. It wasn't folded like this in any other spot. I've removed the whole transformer and switch to get a closer look. I'm no engineer so I'll take a pic and post it up to be sure but it seems pretty well toast. Seems such an expensive fix for a little bit of blackened copper.

Oh yeah and I found the only difference between the 180 and the 180c is that the amperage can be adjusted in infinite increments within its range, instead of steps. The c stands for continuous. Sorry if that description didn't make sense but I'm tired and it's Friday lol. I'm told this fine level of adjustment comes into its own when welding thinner sheet steel.

[ms1991]

hey hybrid, is it the 180 that is adjustable or 180c.. i have the 180c and its an awsome bit of kit from what i have experienced so far.

[Hybrid]

The 180c definately has the stepless adjustment. The "c" stands for continuous adjustment. I can't find anything specifically saying the older 180 on sale doesn't have it but it would seem weird they would add the c if the 180 already had that feature.

[want33s]

I have one of these... So does Offroad _Solutions....
I'd recommend it...

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-250A-Gas ... 3f14cef973


Does aluminum (sic) AND metal

[Hybrid]

want33s wrote:

I have one of these... So does Offroad _Solutions....
I'd recommend it...

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-250A-Gas ... 3f14cef973

Does aluminum (sic) AND metal

Now why'd you have to go and say that. My mind was made up. Took a look, that thing gets some good reviews apart from the gun and some of the replacement parts. But after being burnt by Unimig (pun intended) I'm looking more to the lincoln for the 3 years parts and labour. Plus for anything over 3mm I use stick. My stick welds are easily twice as good as any I ever got from the unimig. Yeah, yeah I know that points me out as a tard but then again maybe there was something wrong with the Uni from the start. Since I'm doing only sheet metal with the mig there's not much point in going for a bigger 250A job that doesn't have any post purchase service. Even if I could buy 2 of those migstars for the price of one Lincoln lol.

By the way anyone interested I found a review on the migstar stating it appears to be a China copy of the old WIA welders. Would explain why it appears to be a good product.

[thesupervisor]

i can rate the 180c should get one brand new $1000
or kempi miniarc mig 180 for about $1800 i have one and it light easy to set up and has the grunt
they have the parts avail too with good brands stuff the china crap

[banga]

or if your after an inverter so it is smaller in size and all the rest that is good about inverters
we have one of these at work very good machine this one is in a kit but i think by themselves they are only $500 to $600 we give ours a hiding at work thick steel and it keeps up gets used alot every day just dont cut the pin off the 15amp plug.
http://www.tradetools.com/products/NB160XKIT

Also have 2 of these machines at work also great welders they one is set up on ally and the other on steel they get used daily. pretty sure you can get them in a 200amp as well.
http://www.machines4u.com.au/view/adver ... DER/17809/

[monley]

thesupervisor wrote:

i can rate the 180c should get one brand new $1000
or kempi miniarc mig 180 for about $1800 i have one and it light easy to set up and has the grunt
they have the parts avail too with good brands stuff the china crap

The kempi's are a great peace of kit, but they are very exy For what Hybrid will be doing from the sounds of thing's, my vote go's to the 180c

[ajsr]

want33s wrote:

I have one of these... So does Offroad _Solutions....
I'd recommend it...

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-250A-Gas ... 3f14cef973


Does aluminum (sic) AND metal

ive had one of these for about 5 years , they are a good tough machine, and I'd buy antother in a heart beat. proper copper core too

[3cyl]

My old Lincoln 170 has a switch (5 position) for voltage and dial for wire, the 180c has a dial for both, I like that a lot more. Both work well but the 180 has much better roller assembly.

[Hybrid]

Wel this is the slowest response ever but I thought I'd put up a photo of the blown windings 3cyl. I bought the Lincoln.

[3cyl]

Haha thanks for the pic, don't need to do a 4 year apprenticeship to see the problem there, shorted a few dozen turns on the primary. That's just a manufacturing quality issue there. Lincoln is a great machine though.

[Teracis]

Hey man I apologise for not checking this thread out earlier, if I'd realised you were on the goldie I'd have tried to help out.

What are/have you done with the broken mig?

[Bucketload]

I have a 180C, my mate had a play - welder by trade and now cert 10 inspector and he reckoned it was much better than he expected for the price.

[Hybrid]

PM'd you Teracis

Yeah Bucket, I had a play with the 180C tonight. The thing welds 1.0mm perfectly with very little messing around with the settings. A good nice "bacon" sizzle. Even got a good 6 inch overlap weld down on the 1.0mm without blowing holes or major warping. Either this thing is light years ahead of the Unimig or my uni always had power issues. I'm guessing it's the latter. I really should have tried out some others when I couldn't get it to do a reasonable weld in te first place. I just assumed I had issues with my settings.

[Bucketload]

I've spent years testing welds (NDT) so I know what to look for but am only learning how to actually do it in the shed. For a novice like me the 180C is very forgiving but the big trap is lack of sidewall fusion, a pretty run only stuck down on one side. Getting there though.

[Hybrid]

That's funny. My biggest dramas seems to be running it too hot and getting too much penetration. My beads tend to be thicker on the back of the weld. I must say I do enjoy the challenge with welding. I spent 10 minutes seagulling around one of the structural steel fabricators on site today doing vertical downs. I'd sneak in for a look when his back was turned. I'm supposed to be the boss. I didn't want to go ruining my street cred by asking him a heap of questions like a school kid.

[thesupervisor]

you do know that vertical down will not pass as a structual approved process
it should never be done
thats what i was taught at welding school