This is for Dan again.

[Brand X]

http://cgi.ebay.com/THERMAL-ARC-FABR...QQcmdZViewItem

[Mike W]

I cheated and looked at it. What is Refined Inductance? That is a new one for me.

[Brand X]

I cheated and looked at it. What is Refined Inductance? That is a new one for me.

It is a way of saying, they took the two taps off the old ones and gave you one!!

[Mike W]

So on the old one you had two values of inductance and now you only have one? Which reminds me, didn't you run a machine with variable inductance? If so, what was your observations about different settings? I have been trying to find some info on this, thanks.

[Brand X]

So on the old one you had two values of inductance and now you only have one? Which reminds me, didn't you run a machine with variable inductance? If so, what was your observations about different settings? I have been trying to find some info on this, thanks.

I have owned five of them. If you want to wet out the puddle or stop some spatter that is bothering you, change the inductance. It's kind of nice for stainless.
On my current one I generally leave it in the middle or add a pinch more.

[Dan]

Scott,

At this point, I'm not shopping for a another 250+ amp unit quite yet. I still want to try the roll of E 70S-3, that ordered Friday, on the MM 251 first. After this, if I still feel the same about the MM 251, I'll see about selling it at Airgas. So, I have a feeling TA is going to sell all there old stock Fabricator 251 units before I can even really consider purchasing a unit. Honestly though, Im a little reluctant to purchase the unit without being able to run it. I sure would hate to sell my 251, which honestly is an excellent unit, for something that wasn t better. If I do end up selling the 251, I ve decided that that ESAB 250 standard is going to be the first unit that I check out.

[Dan]

Mike,

Since i can't afford the fancy units that Scott buys, I have to go with the poormans version of variable inductance, by wrapping several coils of welding lead around a piece of 1" rd solid stock. As you know, the more turns the higher the inductance. After this it's just a matter of hooking the inductor in series with the welding circuit. Of course its not an exact science, so I have to play around with the # of wraps until I get the results im looking for. I used this poormans variable inductance control on a HH 180, and it was amazing how much I was able to improve the quality of the arc on tap #3.

[Mike W]

Dan, I have a couple of inductors, one that I can barely pick up. I am going to use two or three when I get around to building the mig power supply. I will install some links to short some of them out to make a variable inductance. This will be one heavy sucker. I can just pick up the transformers. Oh well, the price was right.

[cope]

Scott,

At this point, I'm not shopping for a another 250+ amp unit quite yet. I still want to try the roll of E 70S-3, that ordered Friday, on the MM 251 first. After this, if I still feel the same about the MM 251, I'll see about selling it at Airgas. So, I have a feeling TA is going to sell all there old stock Fabricator 251 units before I can even really consider purchasing a unit. Honestly though, Im a little reluctant to purchase the unit without being able to run it. I sure would hate to sell my 251, which honestly is an excellent unit, for something that wasn t better. If I do end up selling the 251, I ve decided that that ESAB 250 standard is going to be the first unit that I check out.

Dan,

I know you aren't a big Ed Craig fan, but he has recommended E70S-3 for a long time over E70S-6. That said, finding it in the local store is a problem.

[Roospike]

ER70S-3 -Our most popular MIG wire, SuperArc L-50, premium copper coated wire, is an excellent choice for 50,000 psi (345 MPa) yield strength, carbon steel base materials. SuperArc L-50 has moderate levels of silicon and manganese for deoxidation and cleaning action. Designed for use on clean, oil-free, and rust-free base material. Will tolerate light millscale. SuperArc L-50 also has an excellent reputation for feedability and trouble-free performance. Shielding gases include argon/carbon dioxide blends, argon/oxygen blends, straight carbon dioxide, and three or four-part gas mixes. ER70S-6 - Lincoln's premium copper coated MIG wire, SuperArc L-56 is an excellent choice for welding on metals with a medium to high presence of millscale. For best performance use on clean, oil-free, and rust-free base material. Best weld appearance and toe wetting when compared to ER70S-3 and ER70S-4 classifications. SuperArc L-56 has high silicon and manganese deoxidizer levels. Superior feedability and excellent arc characteristics are trade-marks of SuperArc L-56. Shielding gases include argon/carbon dioxide blends, argon/oxygen blends, straight carbon dioxide, and three or four-part gas mixes. I use the Lincoln ER70S-6 in my MM210 and found it be be the best arc of any wire i have used so far in .030 wire. Dan , Let us know what you find out on the ER70S-3

[Dan]

Alan & Roospike,

The MM 251, has very soft arc, and a very wet puddle. If the MM 251 was the only unit that i ran, this wouldn t be an issue. However, since these characteristics of the 251 are so much different in comparison to my other 4 units , it makes it difficult to use the 251 and another one of my units on the same project. So, what i am attempting to acomplish by running an E70S-3 on the 251 is to reduce the softness of the arc, plus reduce the fluidness of the weld puddle. I'm getting a roll of .035, so I will of course also try it on the 210.

[Roospike]

Dan , Do you normally run Lincoln wire ? I went with the Lincoln wire because of the sharp arc that it has and wets out better on the edges. The other brand wires i have used the arc seems to be "lazy" at best. I could not believe the difference on the arc from one brand to another. ALSO Dan , Would the "Miller's patent-pending Active Arc Stabilizer™ " have anything to do with arc issues or differences you talk about on the MM251? Roospike-Dan

[Dan]

Dan , Do you normally run Lincoln wire ? I went with the Lincoln wire because of the sharp arc that it has and wets out better on the edges. The other brand wires i have used the arc seems to be "lazy" at best. I could not believe the difference on the arc from one brand to another. ALSO Dan , Would the "Miller's patent-pending Active Arc Stabilizer™ " have anything to do with arc issues or differences you talk about on the MM251? Roospike-Dan

Honestly, I 've never ran a Lincoln wire. In an E70S-6, I pretty much run Hobart HB - 28. Your feed back has peaked my interest though. So, I think after I leave this site, I will look for an on-line supplier to order a roll of L-56 from. After all, I am now part owner, for a few years down the road, of a Lincoln SP 175+.

Yes, I think it is safe to assume that Miller's active arc stabilizer is definitely why the unit has such a soft arc and wet puddle.

[SnailTraX]

Mike,

Since i can't afford the fancy units that Scott buys, I have to go with the poormans version of variable inductance, by wrapping several coils of welding lead around a piece of 1" rd solid stock. As you know, the more turns the higher the inductance. After this it's just a matter of hooking the inductor in series with the welding circuit. Of course its not an exact science, so I have to play around with the # of wraps until I get the results im looking for. I used this poormans variable inductance control on a HH 180, and it was amazing how much I was able to improve the quality of the arc on tap #3.

Dan, can you share with us how many wraps you used on the HH 180 Tap 3, and maybe a drawing of the setup so I can picture in my mind, what I think I understand, you just said? And did you do anything for tap four?

Thanks, Bill