How to Use a Lincoln Electric Weld-Pak 100 Welder
by Mike Aguilar
You’ve got some welding to do and you’ve just picked up a used Lincoln Weld-pak 100 welder. The Weld-pak 100 is an older entry level welder that will allow you to perform a variety of different welding techniques, including but not limited to arc and mig welding. While both techniques are similar, there are significant differences, the most obvious of which is that mig welding uses an inert gas to disperse oxygen and nitrogen which can cause poor welds. Mig welding also delivers more satisfying results to beginners with less training.
Step 1
Start the drill motor and apply the rotating wire brush to the area of the metal to be cleaned. You must make the metal to be welded as clean as possible. Wipe it using a cleaning solvent if necessary. Open the jaw of the micrometer and close the jaw on the piece of metal to be welded. Read the thickness from the indicator.
Step 2
Mate the two metal pieces to be welded. If necessary, hold them together using clamps.
Step 3
Read the label inside the wire feed door to determine the wire feed rate and output voltage level. Plug the welder into a suitable power outlet. Turn the valve on the welding cylinder counterclockwise to turn on the welding gas.
Step 4
Clamp the ground cable to the pieces being welded, as close to the location of the weld as possible.
Step 5
Put the welding helmet on with the faceplate up. Place the tip of the welding wire no more than 1/2 inch from the desired location of the weld.
Step 6
Lower the faceplate on the helmet and squeeze the trigger on the welding gun.
Step 7
Move the welding gun along the joint, keeping it within 1/2 inch of the metal pieces. Move along the joint at the same rate the wire is feeding, smoothly to keep a good even weld joint.
Step 8
Release the trigger at the end of the weld. Move the welding gun away from the work piece when the arc dies away. Lift the helmet faceplate. A perfect weld will resemble butter spread on bread or frosting on cake.
Tips
- Practice on waste pieces before welding important pieces. Getting the distance from the work and the speed of motion just right takes a few tries to get right. Self-tinting helmets and goggles are the best. You can keep your eyes protected and not have to mess with goggles or a helmet constantly. If the selection guide is missing from the inside of the feed door, it’s on page B-1B of the owner’s manual. Copy this page and tape it to the inside of the door. If you’re unsure of the settings to use, start at the lowest and slowest and work your way up until the proper setting is determined.
Things You'll Need
- Drill mounted wire brush
- Cleaning solvent
- Cleaning rags
- Digital inside micrometer
- Clamps
- Cylinder of welding gas
- Welding wire
- Welding gun
- Ground electrode
- Welding gloves
- Welding helmet/goggles
Warnings
- Never look directly into the weld arc without the proper shielding in place. You will suffer at least damage to your vision, if not total loss of it. Don’t touch the welded piece with bare skin until it has been allowed to cool. Fairly large or thick pieces will cool very slowly.
Writer Bio
Mike Aguilar is a freelance writer with over 30 years of professional experience as a mechanic and over 10 years experience in the construction and home-improvement fields. He also attended an electrical apprenticeship for two years in Santa Clara, Calif., becoming a licensed low-voltage technician.
