I have lost count of the number of hours I've spent poring over the EP82 Starlet wiring loom in the last month or two, taking photos and documenting connector IDs, wire colours, connections etc etc and am probably still a few weeks away from compiling a comprehensive document on the EP82 wiring.
I bought myself a new MIG welder a few weeks ago. I had a friend who did a lot of research a year ago on MIG welders which inlcuded hiring and trying a few, trying a few from other friends and he decided on buying a Lincoln 180C MIG. After hearing some great things about this welder from a few other sources, I bit the bullet and bought the welder as well as a new adjustable WIA auto-darkening helmet. I had tried my friends' 180C with gasless wire and was somewhat impressed with the quality of the welds and the lack of spatter given that it was gasless, but when I got a bottle of Argon/CO2 mix and tried that with mine I was simply astounded the quality of the welds and how well it handles everything from 1.2mm sheet to 3.5mm plate (I haven't used anything thicker yet).
This photo is about the 10th weld of the Lincoln 180C that I did on some 3.5mm plate.
The Lincoln has a quick reference "cheat sheet" table inside the wire roller cover/door which allows for very quick setting of the (continously variable) wire feed and voltage dials. Of the 4 steel thickness I used today, the reference table had the setting pretty much spot on each time, only requiring minor tweaks to the dials. First impressions of this welder is that it is a quality built machine providing top looking welds and expect that it could make an average welder produce some very good looking welds (whether they have good penetration as well would require some practice). I would highly recommend it but at around AUD $1100 for just the machine (plus additional cost for the gas bottle), it's certainly not within everyone's budget. The welds produced with gas are FAR better than using gasless wire.
I fabricated a simple trolley with caster wheels to hold the welder, bottle (D-Size), helmet etc today to hold it all. It has been enamel painted since these photos were taken.
I bought myself a new MIG welder a few weeks ago. I had a friend who did a lot of research a year ago on MIG welders which inlcuded hiring and trying a few, trying a few from other friends and he decided on buying a Lincoln 180C MIG. After hearing some great things about this welder from a few other sources, I bit the bullet and bought the welder as well as a new adjustable WIA auto-darkening helmet. I had tried my friends' 180C with gasless wire and was somewhat impressed with the quality of the welds and the lack of spatter given that it was gasless, but when I got a bottle of Argon/CO2 mix and tried that with mine I was simply astounded the quality of the welds and how well it handles everything from 1.2mm sheet to 3.5mm plate (I haven't used anything thicker yet).
This photo is about the 10th weld of the Lincoln 180C that I did on some 3.5mm plate.
The Lincoln has a quick reference "cheat sheet" table inside the wire roller cover/door which allows for very quick setting of the (continously variable) wire feed and voltage dials. Of the 4 steel thickness I used today, the reference table had the setting pretty much spot on each time, only requiring minor tweaks to the dials. First impressions of this welder is that it is a quality built machine providing top looking welds and expect that it could make an average welder produce some very good looking welds (whether they have good penetration as well would require some practice). I would highly recommend it but at around AUD $1100 for just the machine (plus additional cost for the gas bottle), it's certainly not within everyone's budget. The welds produced with gas are FAR better than using gasless wire.
I fabricated a simple trolley with caster wheels to hold the welder, bottle (D-Size), helmet etc today to hold it all. It has been enamel painted since these photos were taken.
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