WTB MIG Welder

[minner]

Preferably a Miller 180 or similar model. Mustbe 220V and spool gun ready.

 

[dmucha]

Minner there was a nice setp up on Craig's list in huntsville. 220v. I have a 120v gas mig if you need to borrow it!

Mucha emoAngler

 

[minner]

Thanks Mucha, but that one is pretty bulky, and the spoolgun to fit it would be mega $$.

 

[fishhog]

minner i have a lincoln power mig 200 that has very little use on it. still have 9o% of the original roll of wire on it

 

[minner]

fishhog - 11/12/2008 7:08 PM minner i have a lincoln power mig 200 that has very little use on it. still have 9o% of the original roll of wire on it

</p>

</p>

That's a really nice welder, but it'd probably be out of my price range. Thanks though.</p>

 

[SNUFFY]

I`m curious why you need the spoolgun.........for aluminum ???
I haven`t looked for spoolgun in several years but I didn`t find any that weren`t expensive then >

 

[minner]

SNUFFY - 11/13/2008 9:48 PM I`m curious why you need the spoolgun.........for aluminum ??? I haven`t looked for spoolgun in several years but I didn`t find any that weren`t expensive then >

</p>

</p>

Yep, aluminum. The spoolguns <u>are high</u> but there are cheaper ones out there in comparison for a select few welders.</p>

 

[SNUFFY]

Minner I bought a rig built in Chicago a few years back that actually pushes the wire thru a standard length cable......while I haven`t used it a whole lot it was trouble free after I got everything set up right.
I believe the name is Omni and it has all the standard components internally and I believe it was around $800...220v hookup and 175v on the panel....has the spot weld timer and all.
I believe at the time I bought it a spool gun was about 12-1500$ and a pull gun was a little less.....that`s why I went with this rig. It comes with a special wire liner for the cable and couple extra components around the wire drive.
welds carbon steel really well too !

 

[Guest]

I remember there was a company a few years a go by the name of Cobra, the wire pulling/pushing motor was in the welding head and not in the welding machine. This served two purposes, it would pull steel wire and also aluminum wire so a spool gun attachment wasn't needed. Most Millers had the push mechanism in the welder and wouldn't push the aluminum wire because it would ball up in the welding lead, this is the reason you have to have a spool gun attachment just for aluminum wire. There may be more companies out there that make a welding machine like the Cobra. I have one of the Millers and I had to have a spool gun just for aluminum welding.</p>

</p>

PS..If you are trying to weld thin aluminum, you just need a tig rig not a spool gun, spool guns are primarily made for welding heavy aluminum.</p>

 

[wrechin2]

I bought a lincoln PRO 175 amp from Lowes then bought the conversion kit. Kit was like $60. Came with a plastic liner, roller, and some tips. Works great. Just have to make sure that you get the tension correct on the wire. I set it where it will slip instead of balling up the wire. I can use either grade of wire. I weld aluminium all the time with good sucess. I use to put too much tension on it and spent more time re-threading then welding. Now it it doesn't start instantly it just slips on the wire. That was a PAIN!!!!

 

[minner]

Thanks for the tips guys, I'll keep them in mind.