OPERATION
OPERATION
ELECTRODES AND EQUIPMENT
The Magnum® 300 FM and Magnum® 400 FM guns
and cables have been designed for use with Lincoln L-
50 and L-56, solid steel wire electrodes for the GMAW
process and Lincoln Outershield
®
cored electrodes for
the gas-shielded FCAW process. Refer to the appro-
priate Lincoln Process and Procedure Guidelines for
the electrode used for information on recommended
electrical and visible stickouts.
For best results when welding mild and alloy steels, it
is recommended that L-50 or L-56 Lincoln solid wire
electrodes be used for the GMAW process and Lincoln
Outershield
®
cored electrodes for the gas-shielded
FCAW process.
MAKING A WELD
ELECTRIC SHOCK can kill.
• Do not touch electrically live parts or
electrode with skin or wet clothing.
• Insulate yourself from work and
ground.
FUMES AND GASES can be danger-
ous.
• Keep your head out of fumes.
• Use ventilation or exhaust to remove
fumes from breathing zone.
WELDING SPARKS can cause fire or
explosion.
• Keep flammable material away.
ARC RAYS can burn.
• Wear eye, ear and body protection.
a) Check that the welding power source is on and that
the shielding gas supply is set for the proper flow
rate.
b) Position electrode over joint. End of the electrode
should be slightly off the work.
c) Lower welding helmet, close gun trigger, and begin
welding. Hold the gun so the contact tip to work dis-
tance gives the correct electrical stickout as
required for the procedure being used.
d) To stop welding, release the gun trigger and then
pull the gun away from the work after the arc goes
out. Follow wire feeder instruction manual if using a
trigger interlock circuit.
AVOIDING WIRE FEEDING PROBLEMS
Wire feeding problems can be avoided by observing
the following gun handling procedures:
a) Do not kink or pull the cable around sharp corners.
b) Keep the electrode cable as straight as possible
when welding or loading electrode through the
cable.
c) Avoid wrapping excess cable around the handle or
front of the wire feeder especially on longer 20 and
25 foot (6.0 and 7.5 m) length guns.
d) Do not allow dolly wheels or trucks to run over the
cables.
e) Keep the cable clean by following the maintenance
instructions.
f) Use only clean, rust-free electrode. All the recom-
mended Lincoln electrodes have the proper surface
lubrication.
g) Replace the contact tip when the arc starts to
become unstable or the contact tip end is fused or
deformed.
MAGNUM® FAST-MATE™
WARNING
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