New 350p vs. upgrade 250x for MIG on Al

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I'm have a project that will require lots of aluminum welding. I have only a little experience with MIG on aluminum and was hoping for some input on the pros and cons of these two setups. 1. A new millermatic 350p or powermig 350mp with a push/pull gun @ $6000 vs. 2. My millermatic 250x upgraded with a 30a spoolgun. @ $1000.How much welding would I have to do to make the higher investment pay off? Any other setups I should consider?Ian TannerKawasaki KX450 and many other fine tools
Reply:What aluminum thicknesses does your big alum job require you to weld?Other than that, yes a dedicated state of the art mig for alum welding is a great investment, seeing as you already have the job.The millermatic350p and linclone powermig350mp have built-in features specifically for using the pushpull gun as well as parameters for starting and maintaining the aluminum wire.I have two migs for either thin or thick steel. I have one MK Cobramig260 specifically for tacking and welding thin alum, and one MillerMatic350P specifically for welding  thick alum.The CobraMig with the Prince push/pull gun features the "PosaStart" slow run-in and arc sensing technology that ensures a smooth start, then speeds up to maintain the arc. The settings for Posastart are adjustable for hard or soft alum wires. I love this machine.The Millermatic350P with the AlumiPro gun has the same run-in features but are microprocessor controlled. Honestly when my rep came out and set it up for us, we have been running it continuously for 3 years. I think this machine has a hundred spools of 3/64 5356 run thru it. Of the 2, the CobraMig does not have pulse, but it welds sweet on sheet metal. The Miller welds thick alum like no tomarrow. There is no way I can weld thick alum work with my MillerMatic200 with the spoolgun.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Shovelon, Thanks for the info!The job will be mostly 1/8" and 1/4" and a little bit of 1/2", 6061. All architectural stuff.Ian TannerKawasaki KX450 and many other fine tools
Reply:The miller and the lincoln are both well suited for the task at hand. The one thing I would toss into the convo is that the lincoln has pulse on pulse for the thin aluminum. That is really a nice feature. I am obviously a lincoln fan but, like I said, they are both well suited.Lincoln Power Mig 210MP MIGLincoln Power Mig 350MP - MIG and Push-PullLincoln TIG 300-300Lincoln Hobby-Weld 110v  Thanks JLAMESCK TIG TORCH, gas diffuser, pyrex cupThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101My brain
Reply:I would like to try that pulse on pulse sometime. It is my belief that Lincoln makes the best mig welders hand down. I never met one I didn't like.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Well, where at in SoCal are you? My sis lives in San Diego. I am 3.5hrs away.Lincoln Power Mig 210MP MIGLincoln Power Mig 350MP - MIG and Push-PullLincoln TIG 300-300Lincoln Hobby-Weld 110v  Thanks JLAMESCK TIG TORCH, gas diffuser, pyrex cupThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101My brain
Reply:San Fernando Valley. You know, just over the hill from Holly weird.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:The 250X is not exactly Miller's finest creation, sounds like a good opportunity to upgrade. Pulse is great for aluminum; I have the C300 (more "portable" version of the PM350), and I have no problem welding 16ga Al with 3/64" wire.If you're looking at a dedicated setup for alum, you should also look at OTC machines. They have a very good reputation in industry, and they have their own version of pulse-on-pulse. Most are 3-phase only, though.JohnA few weldersA lot of hammersA whole lot of C-clamps