Thanks, and push-pull and extension cord questions

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I came here several months ago (when I was younger I could say how many) to find out about learning to weld, which I have always wanted to do. Folks here convinced me learning it right is not that simple and advised I take a class. Well I'm just finishing up my first welding class at the local community college. We went from oxygen-acetylene, to stick welding, to MIG, and yesterday we did some TIG. I learned to cut with oxy-acetylene and with a plasma cutter. So thanks a lot for sending me in the right direction.So now I need a welder and the teacher can get me a Miller 211 for arouond $850. I'm thinking about it, but I want to weld aluminum. You can get a spool gun for the 211. But is this as good a solution as getting a welder that has a built-in push-pull gun? The spool gun setup looks heavy, is that a concern? I expect to weld as much aluminum as steel. Also, how much will it cost me to build a 220 extension cord that can go from my dryer plug in the house out to the back yard, say, 60 feet? or is that even feasible? Another option is to get an electrician to come and give me a 220 outlet on the back of the house. I plan to weld on the patio.Thanks much,Jim
Reply:Hey, Jim.I have the MM211 with the Spoolmate 100 spool gun and I think it is a very good solution for aluminum. You should try to go with an electrican installing a dedicated 220 outlet. Won't be much difference in material cost, but I don't know what he will charge for labor. Depends on the difficulty in running the wire. An extension cord to run 60 ' will be heavy and require moving the dryer etc. Just my opinion.Good luck and let us know how it goes.Burt _____________________Miller Syncrowave 250Millermatic 211Miller 375 Plasma Cutter Hobart Handler 12010FtDrillBit.com
Reply:Originally Posted by wb4rtHey, Jim.I have the MM211 with the Spoolmate 100 spool gun and I think it is a very good solution for aluminum. You should try to go with an electrican installing a dedicated 220 outlet. Won't be much difference in material cost, but I don't know what he will charge for labor. Depends on the difficulty in running the wire. An extension cord to run 60 ' will be heavy and require moving the dryer etc. Just my opinion.Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Reply:The little Spoolmate 100 gun is pretty light and small, as far as spool guns go.  It's sure to be alot less tiring than my bigger heavier Spoolmatic 15A.   When you talk about a MM211 and spool gun for say $1000, versus a built-in push-pull machine, you're comparing the little 211 to machines that cost easily 5 to 7 times as much money.  Sure, my MM350P with Python gun is a nice aluminum push-pull pulsed mig rig, but you could buy 6 of those MM211's with spool guns for what my machine cost.  You really can't compare the two machines.  The 211 is a very respectable portable mig that I wouldn't mind having myself, I've used it with fluxcore and it welds nice.  I don't know how well it does on aluminum, but I imagine it does as well as or better than any other mig in it's price range.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by DesertRider33The little Spoolmate 100 gun is pretty light and small, as far as spool guns go.  It's sure to be alot less tiring than my bigger heavier Spoolmatic 15A.   When you talk about a MM211 and spool gun for say $1000, versus a built-in push-pull machine, you're comparing the little 211 to machines that cost easily 5 to 7 times as much money.  Sure, my MM350P with Python gun is a nice aluminum push-pull pulsed mig rig, but you could buy 6 of those MM211's with spool guns for what my machine cost.  You really can't compare the two machines.  The 211 is a very respectable portable mig that I wouldn't mind having myself, I've used it with fluxcore and it welds nice.  I don't know how well it does on aluminum, but I imagine it does as well as or better than any other mig in it's price range.
Reply:Get an electrician to put in a plug for you if you can't do it yourself.  Most times dryers have 30 amp breakers and you likely need a 50 amp to get what you want from your machine.
Reply:Also, it depends on how -thick- your aluminum pieces are as to whether the MM211 has enough ooomph to weld them.And there is a difference between the 'little' spoolguns and the 'industrial' spoolguns.  And a difference from spoolguns to 'industrial' push-pull guns.  Capability wise and $$$ wise.  Sometimes a spoolgun is the right tool for the job, and sometimes a push-pull gun is the right tool.  A MM211 might be the right tool for the job, or it might not be.Also, spoolguns run the little 4 inch diameter spools.  If you are doing a lot of welding, that means a lot of changing the small and relatively expensive on a per pound basis spools of wire.  Big spools cost less per pound and you have more wire on them so you don't have to change a spool as often.  But they do cost more up-front to buy.    And not all wire alloys or wire diameters are available on all spool sizes.Just more things to consider before plunking down some bucks.  Getting the 'incorrect' tool for the job is always frustrating.  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:Very true, MoonRise!  On the aluminum boat pontoons I fabricated, I used an entire 12" 16-lb spool of wire with the 350P and Python gun.  That would have been an annoying job to do with the Spoolmatic and all those 4" 2-lb spools.  The Python is also alot easier to hold and weld with all day than the Spoolmatic.In the production shop I worked in, I used to use that Spoolmatic (before I bought it from the company) as an XR push-pull pistol gun sometimes and it was very tiring to weld with compared to the Pythons we usually used.Last edited by DesertRider33; 04-26-2010 at 06:58 PM.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op