Millermatic 30A spool gun instructions?

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I just picked up a used Millermatic 30A spool gun to use on aluminum jobs, with no owners manual.  It's in very good condition and I have it hooked up to my Millermatic 251 mig and it does seem to put out plenty of juice!  But I can not figure out how to adjust the wire speed and power settings.  It doesn't seem to respond to the settings on the 251 at all.  Have searched on Miller's web site, but other then a brief guide on how to prep aluminum, and how to use the "spray" method of arcing the aluminum on, which I was able to do quite nicely on some heavy pieces of aluminum scrap I had, they did not give me any hints on how to adjust the settings.  The settings it is "stuck" on are pretty high, and I need to adjust it down for some lighter gage work I need to do (1/4" stock, it burns through on that material with the current settings....).Can anyone here give me a hint on where to look for information on how to do this?WillyLast edited by 2Loose; 09-06-2011 at 04:42 PM.
Reply:I found this pdf file so far.Semper FiJesus may have been a Carpenter, but his dad was a Millwright" A grinder and a can of paint, will make a welder what he aint' "I've done so much, with so little, for so long, that now I can do anything with nothing!
Reply:Enter serial # here for owners manual.Semper FiJesus may have been a Carpenter, but his dad was a Millwright" A grinder and a can of paint, will make a welder what he aint' "I've done so much, with so little, for so long, that now I can do anything with nothing!
Reply:Owners manual hereSemper FiJesus may have been a Carpenter, but his dad was a Millwright" A grinder and a can of paint, will make a welder what he aint' "I've done so much, with so little, for so long, that now I can do anything with nothing!
Reply:http://www.millerwelds.com/pdf/spec_sheets/M1-73.pdfThis pdf file has a lot of good info, but nothing on how to adjust the speed and voltage settings.In another discussion group someone mentioned that the wire speed is controlled at the gun, I need to get to the shop and see what I can find, none of the literature from Miller, and I've looked at quite a bit by now, mentions anything like that.  Most of the mig units require a control box, but Miller specifically says I can direct connect my 30A to my 251!Will letcha know what I find when I get over to the shop!WillyLater:Found the speed control, there is a red dial imbedded in the bottom of the handle, no marks, you don't even notice it unless you turn the gun over and look, and when you turn it the speed control indicator on the mig machine changes accordingly.  Recommended for 1/4" aluminum with 0.047" wire in the gun was 22.5v at 375 iph, I got some decent welds with it, now to play with it a little, fine tune it to my "feel" with the gun until I am completely happy with it.  Nowhere did I ever find anything showing that wire speed control, it's location or how to use it!  Amazing, Miller is usually better than that!  I even borrowed a buddies Miller produced mig welding DVD and watched it, and even though there is a segment on using a spool gun with a mig machine, they never showed the adjustment on the bottom of the gun handle in that DVD!But I got it, maybe this thread will be helpful to somebody else, if I can get a pix to post here I will do that!Aloha,WillyLast edited by 2Loose; 09-06-2011 at 08:49 PM.Reason: Found the Speed Control Adjustment.....
Reply:Yeah, on Page 12 of you 251 manual...here, it shows a direct hook up, but doesn't show gun adjustments.I only used a gun once and didn't like the bulk/wt.Semper FiJesus may have been a Carpenter, but his dad was a Millwright" A grinder and a can of paint, will make a welder what he aint' "I've done so much, with so little, for so long, that now I can do anything with nothing!
Reply:Check out page 22, talks about factory set and how to change run-in.Semper FiJesus may have been a Carpenter, but his dad was a Millwright" A grinder and a can of paint, will make a welder what he aint' "I've done so much, with so little, for so long, that now I can do anything with nothing!
Reply:Here's some basic settings that may help you with .047 4043 wire:Base material thickness: (.094=25v 215 ipm) (.125=26v 290ipm)  (.250=26v 370ipm)gas flow (45cfh).047 5356 wireBase material thickness (.094=22v 150ipm) (.125=23v 220 ipm) (.250=24v 320 ipm)gas flow (45cfh)The above settings work well for me with a MM251 & 30-A gun but machines vary, pushing your argon ahead of the weld bead is critical for a clean smut free weld.Last edited by Old Skool; 09-07-2011 at 11:03 AM.
Reply:Thanks OS, I'll try those numbers, my machine seems to run hot, I'm having to set the volts and wire speed down a little.  Am only using the 0.047 4043 for now, fabbing up some 2x2x1/4" aluminum angle frames for some skylites that will be hinged to open up for fresh air circulation, with screens in place, when the weather is good (most of the time here, no AC, so letting the hot air circulate out via skylites, sucking in fresh air through the windows, is a good way to go....) Somewhere in the last couple of days I ran across a note that said that the ipm reading on the machine was for reference only and was not be considered as accurate or absolutely correct, only a way to keep track of where you are and where you are going when you adjust up or down, as the gun's drive mechanism compared to the reading on the machine are not in any way completely sync'd.  So my reading of 320 ipm might be the same as your 380 ipm.  Apparently ya just gotta try and find what setting works for you with your particular setup.My argon gas regulator seems to need a high setting initially, and it drops quite a bit as I pull the trigger, so I've been maxing the gage at first, then after a couple of trigger pulls it seems to settle in with the gage reading about 35 cfh when it's flowing gas, and I am getting good clean welds with that.I also have a syncrowave 180 for tig welding, but it is slow by comparison, for what I am doing I think I prefer the mig gun, welds look good and it is much faster!Think I'm good to go here, thanks for the comments guys....WillyLast edited by 2Loose; 09-07-2011 at 01:44 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by 2LooseMy argon gas regulator seems to need a high setting initially, and it drops quite a bit as I pull the trigger, so I've been maxing the gage at first, then after a couple of trigger pulls it seems to settle in with the gage reading about 35 cfh when it's flowing gas, and I am getting good clean welds with that.
Reply:Miller has by far the best support when it comes to old manuals.You need the manual for the 30A (use the serial number as there were lots of little changes over the years) and the _MANUAL FOR THE 251_.On the 30A, wire speed is controlled at the gun itself.  There should be a dial on the handle 0-9 I think.  Its capable of about 700ipm, around 5 (middle) should be 350ipm.I believe on the 251, with its digital gauges, that when you pull the trigger on the 30A (just a quick, one second pull) the display should tell you what the settings for the spool gun are.  Pull the trigger on the main gun and the display shows you main gun settings.Its called "gun on demand"  You basically can leave both guns attached (keep the wire cut short so you don't short one out).Read the 251 manual!Con Fuse!Miller Dynasty 350Millermatic 350P-Spoolmatic 30AMiller Multimatic 200Hypertherm PowerMax 1000G3Miller Maxstar 200DX