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Chicago Electric MIG 170 - User Manual

Chicago Electric MIG 170
32 pages
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Read this material before using this product.
Failure to do so can result in serious injury.
SAVE THIS MANUAL.
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©
2011 by Harbor Freight Tools
®
. All rights reserved. No portion of
this manual or any artwork contained herein may be reproduced in any shape
or form without the express written consent of Harbor Freight Tools. Diagrams
within this manual may not be drawn proportionally. Due to continuing
improvements, actual product may differ slightly from the product described
herein. Tools required for assembly and service may not be included.
When unpacking, make sure that the product is intact
and undamaged. If any parts are missing or broken,
please call 1-800-444-3353 as soon as possible.
Save This Manual Keep this manual for the safety warnings and precautions, assembly, operating,
inspection, maintenance and cleaning procedures. Write the product’s serial number in the back of the manual
near the assembly diagram (or month and year of purchase if product has no number). Keep this manual and
the receipt in a safe and dry place for future reference.
Owners Manual & Safety Instructions
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Summary

Manual Information

Save This Manual

Instruction to keep the manual for future reference and safety warnings.

Safety Information

Warning Symbols and Definitions

Explains safety alert symbols and their meanings to avoid injury.

General Safety

Provides essential safety precautions and best practices for welder operation.

Fume and Gas Safety

Arc Ray Safety

Electrical Safety

Fire Safety

Welder Use and Care

Maintenance

Gas Shielded Welding - Cylinder Safety

Grounding and Cords

Grounding

Instructions for proper welder grounding to prevent electric shock.

Extension Cords

Prohibition of using extension cords with this welder.

Replacement Cords

Guidelines for selecting and installing replacement power cords.

Technical Information

Symbology

Explanation of common symbols used in the manual and on the welder.

Specifications

Technical details and operating parameters of the MIG 170 welder.

Setup

Face Shield Assembly

Step-by-step instructions for assembling the welding face shield.

Plug Attachment

Guidance on attaching the correct power plug for the welder.

Wire Spool Installation

Wire and Polarity Setup

Flux Core Wire Setup

Instructions for setting up the welder for flux-core wire welding.

Solid Core Wire Setup

Instructions for setting up the welder for solid core wire welding.

Wire Feed Adjustment

Feed Tensioner Adjustment

How to adjust the feed tensioner for optimal wire feeding.

Feed Roller Setup

Instructions for setting up the feed roller to match wire size.

Wire Loading and Torch Preparation

Secure Wire and Prepare Torch

Steps for securing wire, feeding it through liners, and preparing the torch.

Applying Power and Initial Wire Feed

Safety During Power Application

Critical safety warnings before applying power to the welder.

Initial Wire Feed Test

Procedure to test wire feeding after powering on the welder.

Final Setup and Checks

Wire Drive Tension Check

How to check and adjust wire drive tension.

Contact Tip and Nozzle Setup

Installing the correct contact tip and nozzle for welding.

Basic Welding

Welding Safety Gear and Precautions

Essential protective gear and safety advice for basic welding.

Flux-Core vs. MIG Welding

Explains the differences and applications of flux-core and MIG welding.

Control Panel Layout

Key Control Panel Components

Overview of indicators, switches, and dials on the control panel.

Connections and Cables

Details on power cord, torch cable, and ground cable connections.

Duty Cycle and Overheating Protection

Understanding Duty Cycle

Explains duty cycle limitations and how to avoid overheating.

Thermal Protection System

Describes the welder's internal thermal protection and cooling process.

Welding Settings Charts

Flux Weld Settings

Recommended settings for flux-core welding based on material and thickness.

MIG Weld Settings

Recommended settings for MIG welding based on material and thickness.

Setting Up The Weld

Practice Welds and Surface Preparation

Importance of practice welds and cleaning weld surfaces.

Clamping and Setting Controls

Procedures for clamping workpieces and setting wire speed/current.

Gas Shielded Welding Setup

Asphyxiation Hazard Warning

Critical danger of asphyxiation from shielding gas and necessary precautions.

Connecting Power and Initial Torch Position

Steps for connecting power and positioning the torch before starting.

Basic Welding Technique

Bead Types and Torch Control

Techniques for stringer and weave beads, and torch angle control.

Drag Angle and Stickout

Understanding and applying drag angle and stickout for quality welds.

Post-Weld Procedures and Shutdown

Test Weld Evaluation and Adjustment

How to evaluate a test weld and make adjustments.

Safe Shutdown and Gas Closure

Procedures for safely shutting down the welder and closing gas valves.

Welding Tips

Cleaning the Weld

Methods for cleaning slag and preparing welds for inspection.

Strike Test for Weld Quality

Procedure to test weld strength and brittleness.

Weld Diagnosis and Heat Control

Weld Penetration Issues

Identifying and correcting inadequate, proper, and excess weld penetration.

Adjusting Heat and Penetration

How to increase or decrease workpiece heat and penetration.

Common Weld Problems

Penetration and Bend Issues

Troubleshooting excessive, inadequate penetration, and bend problems.

Weld Adhesion and Slag

Addressing issues with weld adherence and managing slag.

Weld Defects and Troubleshooting

Porosity and Spatter Issues

Identifying and resolving porosity and excessive spatter in welds.

Bead Irregularities and Burn-Through

Correcting crooked/wavy beads and burn-through.

Maintenance

Torch Nozzle and Tip Care

Procedures for inspecting and cleaning the welding torch nozzle and contact tip.

Troubleshooting

Wire Feed Issues

Solutions for problems with wire feeding and bird's nests.

Arc Stability and Strength

Troubleshooting unstable arcs and weak arc strength.

Advanced Troubleshooting

Welder Power and Functionality Issues

Diagnosing problems with welder power, function, and arc ignition.

Warranty Disclaimer

Manufacturer's statement on repairs and warranties.

Parts and Diagrams

Wiring Diagram

Schematic showing the electrical connections of the welder.

Parts List

A comprehensive list of all parts included with the welder.

Assembly Diagram

Limited 90 Day Warranty

Summary

Manual Information

Save This Manual

Instruction to keep the manual for future reference and safety warnings.

Safety Information

Warning Symbols and Definitions

Explains safety alert symbols and their meanings to avoid injury.

General Safety

Provides essential safety precautions and best practices for welder operation.

Fume and Gas Safety

Arc Ray Safety

Electrical Safety

Fire Safety

Welder Use and Care

Maintenance

Gas Shielded Welding - Cylinder Safety

Grounding and Cords

Grounding

Instructions for proper welder grounding to prevent electric shock.

Extension Cords

Prohibition of using extension cords with this welder.

Replacement Cords

Guidelines for selecting and installing replacement power cords.

Technical Information

Symbology

Explanation of common symbols used in the manual and on the welder.

Specifications

Technical details and operating parameters of the MIG 170 welder.

Setup

Face Shield Assembly

Step-by-step instructions for assembling the welding face shield.

Plug Attachment

Guidance on attaching the correct power plug for the welder.

Wire Spool Installation

Wire and Polarity Setup

Flux Core Wire Setup

Instructions for setting up the welder for flux-core wire welding.

Solid Core Wire Setup

Instructions for setting up the welder for solid core wire welding.

Wire Feed Adjustment

Feed Tensioner Adjustment

How to adjust the feed tensioner for optimal wire feeding.

Feed Roller Setup

Instructions for setting up the feed roller to match wire size.

Wire Loading and Torch Preparation

Secure Wire and Prepare Torch

Steps for securing wire, feeding it through liners, and preparing the torch.

Applying Power and Initial Wire Feed

Safety During Power Application

Critical safety warnings before applying power to the welder.

Initial Wire Feed Test

Procedure to test wire feeding after powering on the welder.

Final Setup and Checks

Wire Drive Tension Check

How to check and adjust wire drive tension.

Contact Tip and Nozzle Setup

Installing the correct contact tip and nozzle for welding.

Basic Welding

Welding Safety Gear and Precautions

Essential protective gear and safety advice for basic welding.

Flux-Core vs. MIG Welding

Explains the differences and applications of flux-core and MIG welding.

Control Panel Layout

Key Control Panel Components

Overview of indicators, switches, and dials on the control panel.

Connections and Cables

Details on power cord, torch cable, and ground cable connections.

Duty Cycle and Overheating Protection

Understanding Duty Cycle

Explains duty cycle limitations and how to avoid overheating.

Thermal Protection System

Describes the welder's internal thermal protection and cooling process.

Welding Settings Charts

Flux Weld Settings

Recommended settings for flux-core welding based on material and thickness.

MIG Weld Settings

Recommended settings for MIG welding based on material and thickness.

Setting Up The Weld

Practice Welds and Surface Preparation

Importance of practice welds and cleaning weld surfaces.

Clamping and Setting Controls

Procedures for clamping workpieces and setting wire speed/current.

Gas Shielded Welding Setup

Asphyxiation Hazard Warning

Critical danger of asphyxiation from shielding gas and necessary precautions.

Connecting Power and Initial Torch Position

Steps for connecting power and positioning the torch before starting.

Basic Welding Technique

Bead Types and Torch Control

Techniques for stringer and weave beads, and torch angle control.

Drag Angle and Stickout

Understanding and applying drag angle and stickout for quality welds.

Post-Weld Procedures and Shutdown

Test Weld Evaluation and Adjustment

How to evaluate a test weld and make adjustments.

Safe Shutdown and Gas Closure

Procedures for safely shutting down the welder and closing gas valves.

Welding Tips

Cleaning the Weld

Methods for cleaning slag and preparing welds for inspection.

Strike Test for Weld Quality

Procedure to test weld strength and brittleness.

Weld Diagnosis and Heat Control

Weld Penetration Issues

Identifying and correcting inadequate, proper, and excess weld penetration.

Adjusting Heat and Penetration

How to increase or decrease workpiece heat and penetration.

Common Weld Problems

Penetration and Bend Issues

Troubleshooting excessive, inadequate penetration, and bend problems.

Weld Adhesion and Slag

Addressing issues with weld adherence and managing slag.

Weld Defects and Troubleshooting

Porosity and Spatter Issues

Identifying and resolving porosity and excessive spatter in welds.

Bead Irregularities and Burn-Through

Correcting crooked/wavy beads and burn-through.

Maintenance

Torch Nozzle and Tip Care

Procedures for inspecting and cleaning the welding torch nozzle and contact tip.

Troubleshooting

Wire Feed Issues

Solutions for problems with wire feeding and bird's nests.

Arc Stability and Strength

Troubleshooting unstable arcs and weak arc strength.

Advanced Troubleshooting

Welder Power and Functionality Issues

Diagnosing problems with welder power, function, and arc ignition.

Warranty Disclaimer

Manufacturer's statement on repairs and warranties.

Parts and Diagrams

Wiring Diagram

Schematic showing the electrical connections of the welder.

Parts List

A comprehensive list of all parts included with the welder.

Assembly Diagram

Limited 90 Day Warranty

Chicago Electric MIG 170 Specifications

General IconGeneral
Output Current30 - 170 A
Duty Cycle20% @ 170A
Welding Capacity1/4 inch
Wire Size0.023 in. - 0.035 in.
Input Voltage120/240 V

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