Lincoln/ Miller?

[weld_13]

personally i own a lincon and have used millers but do prefer the lincoln just because they seem to be more economical price, runtime, ect. not to cause any storms thats just my opinion

[infil]

In the past i've always used lincoln mig, and miller tig(most recent was a synchrowave 250). Shop im in now just picked up a lincoln precision tig 375 and honestly, not a huge difference in weld quality, just learning the differences in the machines is biggest hurdle. 90% of what we do in the shop is Tig, mainly turbo manifolds, headers, water lines etc in stainless, roll cages in chromoly and exhaust is stainless, titanium which get tigged or mild which generally gets the mig.

The only thing i'd put over the miller w/ the prec tig is the layout makes it easier for someone who doesn't know what their doni to jump in and figure it out, but all in all, i'd call it personal prefrence.

[Black Wolf]

We have the same stuff flying around here too. Rigs getting laughed off the 'line for having blue paint instead of grey or red/black. I haven't seen a whole lot of Vantage 300s and 400s on rigs here maybe a half dozen or so but there are a lot of 305G and 305D. I understand wanting DC only units to avoid the issues with reworking already stated. That being said, it should be open to all "DC Only" welders. That makes it a level playing field. Now if you're kicked off the 'line it's 'cause you just don't cut the mustard. That's fair at least.

Just my $.02
Later,

[HMW]

Need some explaining, as I always do when it comes to pipe line work. Why do they need "DC" only rigs? Why couldnt you set the miller at "Dc" and use it. I must be missing something. In the work I have done [Equipment repair work] we use mostly smaller welders, Bobcat 225D's and 250D's even an old AEAD and they work great and have welded with them all day long set at DC. Most are diesel but a couple of gas ones too. Diesel is nice cause it runs off the truck fuel tank but usually louder it seems. We have a new "Big Blue Air Pac" thats awesome. Why couldnt they use that? Just curious

[weldone]

Sounds like a crock to me.probably started by someone that owns a red one and has a buddy he wants to get on the job with a red one also meanwhile being listened to by somebody that dont know their a$$ from their elbow.(not meaning the members of the forum)
From what I know of code work...your machine is suspossed to be checked for calibration by the c.w.i for amprage output reguardless of color.

A 80-100% duty cycle D.C machine that can burn 1/8-5/32 electrode should be able to tackle whatever the oil-patch can throw at it.

Whats next the color of the operator.

[Black Wolf]

HMW,
I think you missed the answer in a previous post. As I read it, the reasoning for pure DC machines was that they did not have the ability to produce AC output, so the operator could not switch and run rods with AC when no-one was looking.

I could be wrong. It's what I understood.
Later,

[Anti-GMAW]

Personaly I cant stand AC and most of the guys I know prefere DC as well. It's just smoother, so I can't figure out why they'd want to use AC anyways. Not to metion cover passes are usually done with 7018 and similar rods so thats just the added pain in the azz of having to switch polarity all the time. For some that mite not seem that bad but some of those guys burn a lot of rod in 8 hours and would probably get anoyed after a while. It sounds like a load of garbage to me. Personaly I think that if you think that the machine matters that much then you don't know enough about welding to go near an oil pipeline or refinery.

just my 2 cents

[Kellyokc2]

I have heard this also....that Millers get laughed off the job and didnt understand since our shop has 18 Millers. I called my cousin that works in Colorado because he is a pipeline welder.....he told me that this all started years ago and that was because Lincoln makes the rods and would only guarantee welds that was done with Lincoln welders.....He said their entire crew is Lincoln's but he was not sure if that deal about Lincoln rods had to be burned by Lincoln welders was still in effect but the teasing was still going on when someone showed up blue......

Just what he told me......

[HMW]

Yeah, I read that too, just can't figure out what benefit it would be for the welder to do that. Unless they [the welder] would rather use a different rod than is specified. My understanding is 6010 is for the root pass and is a DC rod. What woudl they use 6011 on AC ???? Not sure. I bet its all a bunch of crap

[shorerider16]

I can't comment on engine drive welders or pipelining but I have yet to find a lincoln in any shop that can keep up with a Miller. The old MP-30's in our shop are THE best welding machines I have ever used for Mig; the cv-300s can't compare. As well, the Dialarcs that we have at school will lay a way nicer bead than any red box I have ever tried. Not so sure about the reliability. When they talk about burning up do they mean the engine or the generator/ welder section?