spool gun welding?

[Wheel House Motorsports]

Anyone on here use a spool gun conversion for there mig welders? if so how well do they work and is welding aluminum a total pita with it or what? im thinking about getting one as i could be doing quite a bit of mods to my sled including making a lot of brackets and braces to fit the new motor in.

just looking for some opinions, not going to be doing TONs of structual stuff, just mounts and brackets nad whatnot, so doing it on my own becomes cost affective very quickly at $75+ an hour at the local shop!

 

[oilkan]

i've got a 30A one for my miller 251 and it works great... the key is to have the aluminum very clean, and to get some practice. also you'll need to switch to argon gas. i've seen people get away with using aluminum wire with a regular mig gun, but it usualy just leads to a rats nest. it's definitely not as controllable or astheticly pleasing as tig on small stuff, but it's much quicker for most jobs.

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

yeah, i would like some decent welds as i am going to be making a custom airbox as one of the big things on the conversion.

and i have tried tigging before and know all about the clean, alum only wire brush, rubbing alcahol... good times. and yep, know about the argon as well.

like i said, if it works out half decen, i would prefer it over way expensive stuff from local welding shop!

 

[AkMike]

With a spool gun you always push the gun. Never drag it.

 

[Backcountry]

My point oh two...A spool gun is great for production...oh say like fishing boats. Cant beat TIG for small work like youre talking about. I think youd fight the spool gun to get a fine enough well on those parts for both function and looks.

 

[Ex-Member]

My point oh two...A spool gun is great for production...oh say like fishing boats. Cant beat TIG for small work like youre talking about. I think youd fight the spool gun to get a fine enough well on those parts for both function and looks.

yep. Ran a 30a spool gun on the 251 a few years ago. TIG definately does a better job for small stuff.

 

[sledneck84]

Tig welder all the way.. You will not want the finished look a spool gun leaves. I have both, they each have their place, But for a nice looking finish you want tig. Good luck.

 

[spring snow hero]

what machine are you looking to put it on? aluminum takes a pretty good dose of power. I have a miller at the shop and a lincoln magnum sg on my field rig. you can make welds that look very nice, but they are never going to be as small and defined as a tig rig, but nice work can be done. if it makes you feel any better, I just bought a freq generator and all the leads and arc start/torch for 150 bux......twas a good day at the pawn shop

 

[heinracing]

still probably would be a good idea to buy it that way you can take your aluminum parts all up then take them to a tig to finish weld everything