Miller XMT 300 CC/CV, what wire feeds to use?

[ichudov]

Just as a little intro, I have been welding for hobby projects, for example, I made a homemade trailer out of a military M105A2 trailer bed:

http://igor.chudov.com/projects/Homemade-Trailer-With-M105A2-Bed/

Anyway, I want to get into wire welding a little bit. I recently had a chance to acquire a Miller XMT 300 CC/CV welder. Quite a while ago, I also bought a Lincoln LN-25 wirefeed without a contactor and without a gas solenoid valve.

As a first step, I want to get started with flux core welding without involving gas.

My questions are

1) Is LN-25 compatible with XMT 300 CC/CV?

2) What connector to use between them (I can make my own if you suggest parts). I especially want the wirefeed to tell the welder to turn on and off so that I do not have to buy a contactor (big $$$)

3) What wirefeed units besides LN-25 are compatible with XMT 300 CC/CV?

4) Are there such compelling advantages of gas welding as opposed to flux core, that you would say that it is worth the hassle to upgrade to gas welding?

thanks a lot guys!

[Fat-Fab.com]

Just as a little intro, I have been welding for hobby projects, for example, I made a homemade trailer out of a military M105A2 trailer bed:

http://igor.chudov.com/projects/Homemade-Trailer-With-M105A2-Bed/

Anyway, I want to get into wire welding a little bit. I recently had a chance to acquire a Miller XMT 300 CC/CV welder. Quite a while ago, I also bought a Lincoln LN-25 wirefeed without a contactor and without a gas solenoid valve.

As a first step, I want to get started with flux core welding without involving gas.

My questions are

1) Is LN-25 compatible with XMT 300 CC/CV?

2) What connector to use between them (I can make my own if you suggest parts). I especially want the wirefeed to tell the welder to turn on and off so that I do not have to buy a contactor (big $$$)

3) What wirefeed units besides LN-25 are compatible with XMT 300 CC/CV?

4) Are there such compelling advantages of gas welding as opposed to flux core, that you would say that it is worth the hassle to upgrade to gas welding?

thanks a lot guys!

1]Yes the LN 25 is compatible

2] Run a remote contactor back to the XMT via the 14 pin receptical[sp that would be a PIA I would buy the contactor.

3] Most all made by Miller, Hobart, Thermal Dynamics and any Voltage sensing feeders.

4] Now this question threw me for a while because all this time we were talking a bout wire feed processes and all the sudden we switch to gas welding as in Oxygen Acetylene Welding, then I realized you didn't know what you are talking about, GMAW and FCAW and OA/FW

Some compelling reasons for GMAW..... no slag, easer to feed than tubular wire,
might be cheaper per pound than ERXXT. ???


FCAW good indoor and out better out. no gas cylinder to lug around.


I have three LN 25's and 1 Miller 12VS EX.

The Miller has a neat trick that keeps the wire feeding with your finger off the trigger, the LN25 has a voltage switch on the front panel that lets you know the polarity at the feed box { handy when the leads come from three stories down}



Unless you will only be working in an enclosed shop I would go the FCAW rout as it will be less expensive.

If you will be in a shop the fumes and slag would force me to go GMAW

As you are not working under third party inspections you need not worry about code compatibility issues.

TJ

[ichudov]

Thanks a lot. I will start with LN-25. I like its suitcase format. I have a 10 lb spool of flux core welding wire.

By "gas welding", in the context of the thread, I meant gas shielded wire welding. (GMAW). My plan is to start with FCAW first. I work in the garage mostly. I hope that fumes will not be any worse than from stick welding with 7018. (I kind of like the smell)

[Fat-Fab.com]

Thanks a lot. I will start with LN-25. I like its suitcase format. I have a 10 lb spool of flux core welding wire.

By "gas welding", in the context of the thread, I meant gas shielded wire welding. (GMAW). My plan is to start with FCAW first. I work in the garage mostly. I hope that fumes will not be any worse than from stick welding with 7018. (I kind of like the smell)

The fumes are a bit thicker, just make sure the door to the house is closed lol

I would suggest starting with Lincoln NR 211 in the .035 .045 range. This wire is good for up to 1/2" {I think} beyond that go to NR 212 and if you are doing something critical [read life safety] that you would use 7018 on go to NR 232 or 233 or ESAB Core Shield 8



Good Luck and be safe

[weldckr]

one thing you have to do when using 10# spools on the LN25 is use an empty 10# spool in between the full one and the big plastic nut that holds the spool on, otherwise the spool wobbles alot and when you let off the trigger you get a backlash. if you dont have a empty spool just use a piece of 2" pvc pipe about 2" long till you have an empty spool.

[ichudov]

one thing you have to do when using 10# spools on the LN25 is use an empty 10# spool in between the full one and the big plastic nut that holds the spool on, otherwise the spool wobbles alot and when you let off the trigger you get a backlash. if you dont have a empty spool just use a piece of 2" pvc pipe about 2" long till you have an empty spool.

OK, I guess, maybe it is easier to just get a 25 lb spool? What diameter will you recommend? I rarely weld anything thinker than 1/2 inch, and if I did, I would use stick anyway. thanks