Lincoln Electric Speedtec 200C Synergic Tips & Tricks

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Does anyone out there have a Lincoln Electric Speedtec 200C that they have been using for a while and could provide a new user ... me with some tips and tricks? I have read the Operator's Manual and even copied and pasted it into a larger font - all the better to see it with ... Oops, I digress... Well it is painted red!

There are these great descriptions of the differences between the basic and advanced menus where things like burnback, run-in wire feed speed, Spot timer, Preflow time & pastflow time, 2 or 4 step trigger and inductance that all can be user set within the synergic mode. All of these features would be great. The Operator's manual even lets me know what all these previously listed things are.

Just the Operator's manual does not let me know which buttons to press and which way to turn the specific button to be able to get into a menu some where I can then select each of these truly wonderful features, that I know the definitions for - thanks to the Operator's Manual!

I bought my Lincoln Electric Speedtec 200C that does out of the box with no extra parts needed MIG and MMA or arc or stick welding. There is a TIG kit that can be purchased separately for the welder. I bought the welder - without TIG, new back in 2020 and it sat in its box, unopened until I could get power connected to my shed. Then I had to have some free time to set the welder up. So, yes time did advance during this waiting for the right conditions (power to the shed) and Time to use the welder to come around.

I am very - very new to welding. The Operator's Manual works on apparently from a level of prior experience that I simply do not have.

I have searched on YouTube for my welder and there are some shown. However they only show the screen as it changes not what buttons someone pressed to get to make the changes shown on the screen. You know the how to do it step by step approach. Wonderful features I am sure - just how do I access them?????

Oh in case I was just a bit too veiled ... HELP!

Thank you

Kind regards
Lionel

[Mike K]

Hi Lionel

Ask these guys the moderator is a welding teacher
https://metalworkforums.com/f160

I have been a hobby welder for years, I did a TAFE welding course and it opened up some doors , seeing the industrial 3 phase welders they had at TAFE , it was like night and day the difference in what you can do.

At home with a single phase welder you will be limited to a large degree to relatively light gauge materials. But I did manage to build the body for my C8 Chev with a basic MIG and Arc welder , the max gauge I welded was around 5/16" or 3/8" mild steel.

One thing I learnt where I live is: the mains supply voltage is critical, it can go up/down depending on the time of day ... after 4pm welding is not possible.

Use 15 Amp rated leads and keep your power leads as short as possible, longer leads means more voltage drop ... with single phase you want to limit the voltage drop from the mains supply, voltage drop really is bad for electric welding.

The Lincoln you have is a great machine so you have a good starting point.

I have a WW2 era US HOBART welder: supplied as Lend-Lease, it is 300 Amp DC and is driven by a Dodge 6 engine.... it is sitting on a Aust. single axle traiiler with the 18" Aust. wheels, it has a Allied Works Council number on the chassis. It needs fixing, the commutator looks worn but it is a complete unit, nothing missing. A jeep would tow it short distances. A club member here was using it on the farm , but he retired and downsized, it was too good a deal to refuse.

[Lionelgee]

Hello Mike,

Thank you for the reply. Unfortunately the days of Queensland Technical and Further Education (TAFE) offering Adult Community Education (ACE) 'Hobby' courses are gone from my district. The closest TAFE college that offers a MIG course is located 3 hours drive from me. The course looks like a certification one; as it is held every Wednesday evening over a 10 week period. That would mean a round trip of 6 hours and an overnight stay in a motel, plus the cost of fuel and meals all multiplied by 10.

The ACE courses should never have been axed. Oh, I am a former TAFE Trade Teacher. The ACE course were frequently an introduction to training that led people just wanting to do a hobby to them deciding to get qualifications in that area of interest. Just my humble opinion. I knew one person who followed their hobby through to a PhD and they started off doing an ACE course. Plus, people could do things like an Introduction to Gardening course, where they could learn to grow their own food. Or MIG weld. I missed out on doing a lead-lighting, stain glass ACE course that was once offered locally. I would still like to pursue that course somewhere too.

Kind regards
Lionel