Mig Welding Aluminum with Spoolmate 100 on Auto 140

[SBray]

AL is a learning curve with MIG- more so on the thin stock 14g & 16g.

16g is really the limit for the MM211.

Slight changes in Tip to Work distance can really make a big difference: either good or bad and with AL, bad is really bad No forgiveness like Mild steel allows.

You can't back off the heat like ya can with your Tig.

That's a shame, I was hoping to get 1/4" or even 1/8" results with the MM211, and the Spoolgun. I had a Diversion 165, and sold it. It wasn't bad for an entry level machine. I just felt I could get more use out of the MM211. Perhaps I'll look for another TIG machine with better features.

Steve

[Broccoli1]

That's a shame, I was hoping to get 1/4" or even 1/8" results with the MM211, and the Spoolgun. I had a Diversion 165, and sold it. It wasn't bad for an entry level machine. I just felt I could get more use out of the MM211. Perhaps I'll look for another TIG machine with better features.

Steve

Sorry, I meant- 16g is the thinnest If you wanna weld thinner, use the TIG.

It will do 1/8" no problem

It should do 1/4"- I've never tried any 1/4" though.

[SBray]

That's really good to hear!

Steve

[SBray]

I am that guy who reworks the spool gun barrels for the bigger thread tips used in the mig guns. Got a buddy with a lathe the how to pics are here. http://www.millerwelds.com/resources...php?albumid=48 The pics are for a 3035 spool gun as the barrel design has changed for the 100 but the info is still the same...Bob

I just got my Spoolmate 100 inner barrel assembly back from Bob. He re-threaded it so it would accept the M-15 tips. I re-assembled the gun and set it up on my MM211. What a difference it made. I used .035 4043 wire on what appeared to be 1/8" thick aluminum. I was able to spot weld with it, and even run beads that were approximately 3" long without splattering, or burnouts to the tip.

Now all I have to do is spend more time perfecting my welding skills!

I really appreciate Bob taking the time to have this work done.

Thank you Bob!

Steve

[Steve83]

My only 2 Aluminum projects were cast, and I was surprised at how few times I birdnested & melted tips. No pics of the first (a Polaris Ranger front diff housing), but this & the NEXT few show the 2nd:



Neither has broken again.