MIG welding is one of the most popular welding method at hand; this is simply because the process is easy to learn and needs almost no cleanup.
MIG welders are convenient tools that are simple to set-up and use; they are ideal for a range of projects including small home repairs, autobody work, hobby welding and maintenance of equipment.
They also allow for a higher rate of productivity, but that’s only if you have the right machine. After thoroughly reviewing the most popular MIG welder (the Lincoln Pro MIG 180 Welder), we have found another great MIG welder with much capabilities like the Lincoln proMIG 180, the Lincoln easy MIG.
After highlighting the key features of these units, the Lincoln 180 MIG welder review also covers an In-depth comparison of the two welders.
We hope by the time you’ve finished reading this article, you should have no problem selecting the right welder that meets up your welding requirements.
Key Features of Lincoln Electric PRO-MIG 180 Welder
The Lincoln Electric Pro-Mig welder is perhaps the most suitable welder for beginners. Though there is no anyone welding machine that is 100 percent suitable for all jobs, if you are a beginner and looking for the high-quality MIG welder to kick start with, the Lincoln Pro MIG 180 is your ultimate option.
The Lincoln Pro 180 is a compact lightweight welding machine suitable for light fabrication, farm repairs/constructions, auto body works and home projects. It is a dual voltage welder; you can use it to weld thicker metals if you have access to 208/230V outlet.
The simple 2-knob control makes it easy to weld thicker materials with the flux-core; you can as well weld thin sheets metals such as mild steel, stainless steel or aluminum materials using the standard gas shielded MIG setup.
This unit is indeed the best, loaded with a whole lot of amazing features that will simply get the job done. The fully adjustable drive-roll system eliminates the probability of wire tangling and crushing, also the Brass-to-brass gun connection increases conductivity.
The Lincoln Electric Pro 180 also features an industrial cast-aluminum gearbox which delivers added drive torque and smooth operations. Forgiving arc makes dialing-in application easy. Easy turn numeric drive tension indicator easily identifies the best range for various wire diameters.
Smooth ARC-starts with minimal spatter, this powerful device is capable of delivering 30 to 180 amp output making ideal for welding 24 ga. Up to 4.8mm metal thicknesses in a single pass. Things included in the box are: shielding gas Apparatus, Gas Regulator, 100L gun, 4-pin MS-Type connection etc.
Here are the basic features of the Lincoln Pro MIG 180 welder in details.
Dual Voltage capability
This feature is a plus to the Lincoln Pro MIG 180 welder as it can run smoothly on both 208 and 230 Volts. You can choose either of the two input power based on your power requirement. This makes the welder more versatile for tackling a wide range of welding projects ranging from small home repairs to heavy industrial constructions.
Diamond Core Technology
This innovative design by Lincoln manufacturer is meant to provide a more forgiving ARC. Because of this feature, this machine has a stable arc and also lays good beads.
Affordable
The Lincoln Pro 180 Mig welder has a midrange price; a great deal for versatility. This welder also offers more power since it can run perfectly on 230V outlet, making it excellent for handling light industrial jobs and also for heavy industrial applications. On the other hand, it is also suitable for farm and home repairs.
Specification
- Output power: 30-180A
- Wire Feed Speed: 50-500 ipm
- Cored wire size range: .030-.045 inch
- Dual-voltage: yes
- Weight: 66 pounds
Pros
- Lightweight
- A fully adjustable drive system
- Outstanding performance
- Durable cast-aluminum gearbox
- Smooth arc starts
- Brass-to-brass gun connection
Cons
- A great welder but pricey
- A couple of complaints about the durability of the gauges
Read Also: Lincoln 140 Mig Welder Reviews
Lincoln easy mig 180 vs pro mig 180
Last update on 2024-08-27 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Lincoln Easy MIG 180 and pro MIG 180 are all MIG welders with flux cored welding abilities. These two welders not only have some features they in common, but they also operate on the same input power. They are in fact, multi-voltage welder capable of running smoothly on both 208V and 230V input power.
Although these welders are so much similar in functions, they also have other characteristics features that differentiate one from the other. Let us look at a head to head comparison of these two welders.
Power Output
The power output of these two welders is generally the same, both welders offer a power output in the range of 30-180A. So, when these welders are to be compared based on this feature, I would say they are all great welders, and they are powerful enough for handle a range of welding projects including small home repairs and industrial applications.
Duty Cycle
Duty-cycle is of the important factors you definitely want to consider and compare when buying a welding machine. The duty-cycle identifies the capacity of the welder and it is particularly calculated in percentage of 10 minutes.
For example, if a welder has a 70% duty-cycle at 150A, it implies that the welder will operate continuously on the output power of 150A for 7 minutes before getting hot and shuts down, then it will have to rest for 3 minutes in order to cool down before it can be used again.
Lincoln Easy Mig and Pro MIG 180 welders both offer a duty-cycle of 30% at 130A. It is very important to understand that duty-cycle and output power work hand in hand; reducing or increasing the output power will inversely affect the duty-cycle as well.
Hence, the higher the output power, the lower the duty-cycle and vice versa. And the more the duty-cycle a welder has at a particular output power, the longer the welder will operate.
Therefore, both welders are particularly approved only for small industrial applications. For heavier applications, welders of higher category like Lincoln PowerMIG 210 and Millermatic 211 MVP are most recommended.
Applications
Like other MIG welders, both Lincoln pro and Easy MIG welders can be used to weld mild steel, stainless steel, copper and aluminum materials. These welders are great for light industrial applications and they can weld materials as thin as 24 gauge. The two welders are recommended for welding metal as thin as 24 ga. Up to 3/16-inch thick, you can see this is good enough to accomplish a wide range of welding projects.
Flexibility
Again both the two welders have a dual voltage capability, they both operate smoothly on 208V and 230V input power. So you can use these machines wherever you can get access to 230V outlet. In terms of flexibility, both welders are particularly the same. Though the 230V input power cannot be operated on a normal household power plug, these welders can also run on 208V. Again, the welders are so flexible that they can be powered by 6900 watt or 7000-watt generators.
Portability
Weight is the most important to consider when talking about portability. The Lincoln Pro MIG and Easy MIG 180 both weighs 66 pounds, they are generally portable enough for easy transportation. Hence, ideal for rental shops and for sites where you will need to move the welder around regularly.
Special features
Even though these welders share so many features in common, each has one specific feature that makes it different from the other.
They both have so many advanced features such as Industrial Cast-aluminum drive, Diamond Core Technology, Spool gun ready and Brass-to-brass gun connection. The Lincoln Pro MIG 180 features Easy-turn numeric drive tension indicator, this feature is so important and can Identify the right ranges for various wire diameters. Unfortunately, this feature is absent in the Lincoln EasyMig 180.
Cost
When comparing between two welders in the same category, the cost is one important thing you can’t ignore. Easy MIG cost between $700-$750, whereas, the Lincoln Pro MIG 180 cost around $750-$800. The two prices are a very good deal especially considering their features. Though the Lincoln Pro cost more, it has other features that are absent on the EasyMig.
- Precision full-adjustment drive system reduces chance of wire tangling and crushing
- Brass-to-brass gun connections for enhanced connectivity
- Forgiving Arc makes dialing in your application easy
- Smooth Arc starts with minimal spatter
- Weld up to 1/2”steel using self-shielded Lincoln Innershield wires
Last update on 2024-08-27 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Conclusion
We know by this time you must have learned a lot about Lincoln EasyMig and Lincoln Pro MIG 180 welders, what they share in common and also what differentiates one from the other.
We believe you must have also realized that no welder is inferior or superior as each has its own advantages and disadvantages. If you are looking for a cost-effective and versatile welding machine capable of handling small and heavy industrial tasks, the Lincoln Pro-Mig 180 is a very powerful tool that will serve you well.
It a great welder especially if you are going to be working on thinner materials. We hope this piece has every detail you need so you don’t have to go over tons of Lincoln 180 MIG welder review online.
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