spool gun???

admin

i have a blue point mig 110 as my welder i got a great deal on it so i bought it...i wanted to know if i can hook up a spool gun to it so i dont have to buy a tig welder to weld aluminum....im really new to welding different metals im used to welding just steel with a MIG...so any information would be greatly appreciated...
Reply:Probably not.Most 110 volt mig welders are not set up to take a spool gun. There might be one Lincoln that does- maybe somebody will chime in- but mostly they are not available to fit.There is no cheap and easy way to weld aluminum.It can be stick welded, but it sure aint easy. And it usually only works on pretty thick stuff- 1/4" and over.Tig welding it is the best, but very pricey. Mig welding aluminum is messy, smoky, usually pretty ugly, and no fun. Not cheap either- a decent spool gun is $500 to $800, a push pull unit, which works a lot better, is $1500, plus the cost of a good power supply- figure 3 grand.Mig welding is usually used in production situations where the appearance is not a big deal- stock feeders, or truck beds, or docks, but anywhere you really care about what it looks like, you usually end up tigging it.Sorry- no magic bullets.
Reply:Your best bet is to locate a 175 miller or lincoln mig, and get a spool gun for that. It will have the power needed to make your welding on aluminum much less of a nightmare, and spool guns are readily available for both, for a fair price. You can do the aluminum with your welder, but you will not have a very good time, I PROMISE. The other trick would be to maybe trade some work with a guy who can burn it for you.
Reply:I think HTP America sells a system that will hook up to a 110.  However, you will be very limited in what thickness aluminum you can weld with the 110v machine.  Look at the Ready Welder products.  I have never used them, just a thought.
Reply:I just saw a 120v, 140 amp snap-on with spool gun on ebay.http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Snap-...spagenameZWDVWSmithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:DJM, I have seen many weld aluminum on a 110 mig unit. Mostly used on spot repairs or spot usages, light applications, and is not the best way for every day production aluminum welding. So it depends on your intent of welding aluminum, if spot repairs and light usage application is want your intent is then, 1) correct grade of aluminum wire and size is determined 2) typically straight argon is to be used 3) get a teflon liner for your mig gun and replace the steel spring liner with it 4) check with the mfg if a aluminum drive roll kit available 5) start practicing those welds and if all possible keep that mig gun cable straight as possible!!Good Luck!