Migging Al. W/mm175

[fun4now]

i'm looking forward to doing lots and lots of aluminum

[Mike W]

At home I may weld alumimum once or twice a year at the most.

[hankj]

IBRAILIN,

You need 100% argon.

Hank

[oldudbob]

I am thinking about purchasing a MM 210. I was going to buy the package that include the spoolgun. However, then I have to purchase another tank for Argon. Since I don't have any need, at present, to weld aluminum, I will probably get it set up just for steel. Later, I can add the spoolgun and Argon tank. This will save me about $800-$900 which is money I can use for something else I really need now.

[IBRAILN]

I just bought a MM175 last month, I love it for steel, but I am also wondering about AL. .125" is plenty thick for me, but what type of gas do you use? I currently use C25.
Thanks

[Kelly Aitken]

I talked to the miller dealer today and he pretty much told me the same thing Tommyd did. It is just hard to justify the $800.00 spoolgun when I don't do that kind of al. work. Will the 210 push al. like the 175 with out the spool gun? Thanks for the responce.

Kelly

[hankj]

Kelly,

I have a MM210 w/3035 spoolgun and I love it. I'll probably opt for a Synchrowave 180SD for my TIG needs, as my interests don't include building roll cages and racing machines.

As for the sppolgun, it's a rather pricey accessory to be considered an "aluminum only" adjunct. I've run steel wire in it a few times so far where that 20' reach came in real handy. Wedling on top of my neighbor's horse trailer was one case. Option "B" was to bench-press the 135 up there; liked the 3035 much better!

Sounds to me like you're in the catbird seat right now. I'd do like you are - see what the needs are before spending the money.

Hank

[tommyd]

How thick al can I expect to mig with the 175? how many guys mig al. with the smaller rigs without spoolguns? I know they tend to wad up inside somretimes but with the proper liner I thought they were suposed to work. I would like to here from people good or bad. Thanks.

Kelly

I weld al. with my mm175. Get some 5356 al.wire .030 and use a .035 tip and ajust your tension very lite past slipping and set your V on 1 and your wire speed on 100 and I use the metal liner that came with it.

[fun4now]

problem solved

Kelly Aitken
I can afford to go with the dynasty 200 and a mm210. That would easily cover anything I would ever do in my garage.

seems you have it coverd,if you let your cheap side take over and next month/year you dont have enough welder how much will it cost you to upgrade then?? if you can aford to get what you know will take care of you why would you even think about getting what mite??????cover it ?

best of luch with your choices, you know what you want and need dont talk youre self out of it just to regret it later


i might be ok with a TA185, but i know i'll be set with a Dyn.200DX so i'm still saving my pennies till i can get what will keep me happy

[Kelly Aitken]

Thanks Hank. I have used a Lincoln 135 to do al. in the past. It wasn't the greatest experience but it worked. I know that most people will say go with the 210. That is an option for me. Most of the advice I get is go as big as you can afford. I am in a wierd position, one I don't usually find myself in. I can afford to go with the dynasty 200 and a mm210. That would easily cover anything I would ever do in my garage. Now I'm concerned about over kill. I'm just a hobby welder so my cheap side tells me to ease up. I just got my econ twin hf working so I think I will use it for a while and see if I outweld it. As for the 175 vs 210, I know how much more the 210 can do especially with a spool gun. I just have to figure out just how heavy al. I think I will ever do. Probably not much if any. I know I will come across some al. I'll want to mig. Thats why I'm curious as to others experiance with the175. I did a search on the 175 and only found one thread about welding al. with the 175. It was positive as long as it didn't go over a 1/4" I believe. And then I supose you could multi-pass it. I hope others that have migged al. with a 175 will post good or bad.

[hankj]

You no doubt have noticed that there is no aluminum spec on the door chart. Guys do it. The serious ones buy a separate gun for it with a teflon liner. .125" is about top end.

Hank

[Kelly Aitken]

How thick al can I expect to mig with the 175? how many guys mig al. with the smaller rigs without spoolguns? I know they tend to wad up inside somretimes but with the proper liner I thought they were suposed to work. I would like to here from people good or bad. Thanks.

Kelly