How to Weld With the Lincoln Pro MIG 175

The Lincoln Electric Pro-MIG 175 has kits that can be added to the welding machine for special projects.

The Lincoln Electric Pro-MIG 175 is a compact 130 amp, 20 volt metal inert gas (MIG) welder that can be used for most welding projects. The Pro-MIG 175 can operate both as a gas metal arc welder (GMAW) for narrow gauge projects or as a flux-cored arc welder (FCAW) on thicker metals. With practice, MIG welding can be accomplished faster and more successfully than oxyacetylene welding methods.

Things You'll Need

• MIG wire
• Wire cutters
• Clamps
• Wire brush
• Welder's mask and gloves

Instructions

Preparation

1. Load the MIG wire into your Pro-MIG 175 by turning the wing nut on the spool 90 degrees and sliding the wire spool onto the spindle with the lead feeding under the spool toward the front of the machine. Turn the wing nut back to lock the spool in place. Feed 8 inches of wire into the wire spindle shaft.

2. Pull out the pressure arm and rotate the idle roll arm so you can access the wire feed drive roll. Thread the wire from the spool through the guide tube and over the drive roll. Close the roll arm and reset the pressure arm to put tension on the wire.

3. Remove the torch tip from the MIG gun and depress the trigger to feed the MIG wire through the torch hose. Replace the torch tip and cut off excess wire from the end of the torch so 1/4 inch of electrode wire is protruding from the MIG gun. The Pro-MIG is ready for welding.

4. Arrange your metal pieces into position for welding and clamp them in place so they cannot move.

5. Remove any dirt, corrosion or paint along the weld seam with a metal brush.

6. Put on your welder's mask and gloves.

Welding

1. Slowly open the shielding gas cylinder and adjust the regulator so the gas is flowing between 15 to 20 cubic feet per hour.

2. Place the torch tip 3/8 inch above the weld joint and pull the MIG gun trigger to start an arc to melt the metal. This creates a pool of molten metal that fuses the pieces together.

3. Slowly move the torch along the seam of the weld until you reach the end of the joint.

4. Release the trigger and wait for the arc to extinguish before moving the gun away from the metal. If you move the gun too soon, the arc may jump and deposit slag or melt a part of the metal away from the joint and create a burn mark on your project.

5. Remove any slag from the weld with a wire brush after the joint cools.

Tips & Warnings

• Read the operator's manual for the Lincoln Electric Pro-MIG 175 before operating it.

• Always wear a welder's mask and gloves while welding.

• Do not wear loose clothing while welding. Do not weld near flammable materials.

• Always weld in a well-ventilated area.

References

• Lincoln Electric: Pro-MIG 175
• Lincoln Electric: MIG Welding Stainless Steel
• Rodovens: Advantages of MIG Welding