Boat tower spoolgun

admin

Anyone ever do a boat tower repair with a spoolgun? This is really a shot in the dark for me but Im running a 700 series spoolgun off my trailblazer running .030 wire thats 5356. Any suggestions, comments will be helpful. Im gona be honest, I dont know if its anodized or not yet because I haven't see the job yet but I may just let this one by because I don't want to throw ugly welds on a tower.
Reply:That may be the better part of valor. Tig would be my first choice. Besides, sending sparks raining down on deck could make ugly of things. City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:The issue I've had with spoolguns and round stock or tube is it's often very difficult to swing a large bulky spoolgun around fast enough with alum to maintain both the correct angle and keep your travel speed up enough to get nice looking welds. It's the primary reason I went and learned to tig alum..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:think i may just tell the guy its out of my league. i really need to purchase a dynasty 200dx! lol
Reply:200 amps ac is kind if light to repair towers. Need more heat to get the foot pads hot. Old cracked anodized pipe doesn't weld very nice.  Sparks and fiberglass don't mix very well. welderbob
Reply:I don't want to sound like a dick, but TIG is what all most boat owners want to see. I cut my welding teeth making T-tops, radar arches, tuna towers, bow rails, and dive platforms. Boat people are picky and have money, they pay for looks.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:Ha Ha,Done a fair amount of marine repair (towers, t-tops, leaning posts, etc) but I never used a spool gun for the work.As has been mentioned, the Dynasty 200 DX is a little light (amps and duty cycle) for a serious diet of anodized aluminum.  You'll find yourself "waiting" a lot.As Tozzi mentioned, yacht owners are picky, but don't mind paying for quality work.  (Thank goodness)PS.  When I mention "yacht owners" I'm talking primarily about the power guys.  The "windfairies" think the wind is free, and everything else should be as well.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:thank you all, so what machine would you guys recommend for mobile tig?
Reply:Originally Posted by lovetoweldthank you all, so what machine would you guys recommend for mobile tig?