Migging Al. W/mm175

[Kelly Aitken]

Now I'm hearing what I was hoping to hear. The added support right out of the machine makes alot of sence to me. Thanks for all the feed back.

Kelly

[DDA52]

Hey Moe,
Nope, no old ones around. I don't think I'd like a 6 footer. The 10 works fine with the liner. I'm getting to the point where I don't like the 10....my new 12' is great. It'll reach almost halfway across the shop without touching the machine. Not sure, but I might be getting lazy. There have been a lot of threads regarding alu lately. I may have to cut some strips up and play around again.

[moe1942]

I have been reading all the threads on all the forums I visit about using the standard gun on the MM 135-175 welders to weld Al. One of the major problems seems to be the length of the liner.

Seems that by shortening the whip to six feet, using a teflon liner and oversized tip the odds of success might increase dramatically. Also Joe made a good point about supporting the whip where it exits the machine. Good idea.

Since most who would use this setup probably are doing small repairs in a horizontal position the short whip shouldn't pose a problem.

Maybe someone with an old whip that could be modified will want to try this out.. Don, got an old whip??

[fun4now]

3/64"

pt#194 014 kit liner 3/64" (1.19MM) aluminum wire X 15 ft


hope that helps

[hankj]

Wheels,

The 210 is running at **** near max (tap 7, WS 80) with .035 wire on 3/8 stock, but the manual does list a drive roll for .045 (still a hair short of 3/16) even though there are no recommendations on the door chart. Don't think 3/64 is in the picture there. I don't have the data for the 251, but that's where I'd be going to run wire that thick.

Hank

[Wheels]

I switched to 3/64 4043 aluminum wire years ago with good results. I run all my al. through a 30a spool gun and I just wondered if Miller offers a liner to accept a larger diameter wire? There is no question if a machine is capable of running 3/64 it would help greatly to avoid the birdsnests.
If I had feeder problems I would try 3/64 5356 since it is a little stiffer than 4043.
This thread is of intrest to me as I am thinking about a 210 or more than likely a 251.

Mike

[wrench3047]

I've seen setups with AL on the m25 gun with the MM251 it did well. Two of the tricks I've seen to help prevent the wire binding are an angle bracket coming off the welder with the first foot of the gun taped to the bracket to keep it straight, second an a$$ load of duct tape around the first foot or so to keep it from bending. When you run AL wire through the longer guns the part that gets you is the initial sag of the gun out of the machine. Do your best when the AL wire is feed through the gun to keep it fairly straight, the straighter the lest chance for kinks in the wire causing binding.

[DDA52]

I run alu with my MM 135 and teflon liner. It is the same liner that the M-25 gun uses. The paperwork that came with it recommends not pushing alu over 10'. 12' may not be an issue, but 15' will be, most likely. 4043 in small dia. probably wouldn't like it much, while 5356 may not care since it feeds better, just doesn't weld that good. My best suggestion is experiment since what you are proposing isn't really recommended. My supplier didn't want to sell me the teflon liner since they said it was impossible to weld alu with a MM 135. I proved them wrong. Definitley go with the teflon liner. The steel liner will work, with difficulty, but eventually you'll develop feed problems. The difference in feeding between the two is night and day. You may want to get another gun to keep from having to switch out liners all the time. It can be a pain. I got a 12' Tweco Fabgun 250 for my steel only gun, and dedicated the M-10 gun to alu only.

[fun4now]

over size the tip and go for it

i have herd of meny people that just oversize there tip and use the standerd gun and liner on bolth the MM135 and MM175.

i looked into it but never got a chance to try aluminum with my MM135 i might play with it after i get the dynasty and have the argon around.an extra tank of argon just to try it was not in my budjet

the MM210 dose have a beter drive setup but im not shoure that would make a lot of diferance in bird's nesting.

[fun4now]

M-10/M-25 guns

bolth MM175 & MM210 have a spool gun option
the MM175 uses the M-10 titch is 10ft. the same as the MM135 it is 100%duty at 100Amps

the MM210 uses the m-25 gun witch is 12ft and rated at 100%duty at 250Amps

miller makes an aluminum conversion kit for the M-25 gun pt.#172 136 about $42.50

you can get a liner for the m-10 gun it is the same liner as is used in the M-25 gun??? i gess they only make 1 teflon liner

liner pt.# 194 014 it is about $22.70

all thease prices are from the dealer i use so they will verry. but i hope this helps

[Kelly Aitken]

I'm still looking for someone that has used their 210 for al. with out the spoolgun. I'm not sure but I think the 210 has a longer lead then the 175. The longer the lead, the more wire to push.

Kelly

[rb455ho]

I have never used a spool gun for aluminum only tigged. How does the weld appearance compare to migging steel?

It is becomming more full time than hobby Got a offer to Fabricate a few spec items a fix some broken stuff, they paid for the machine . I just get to keep it.... forever, LOL... Stranger things have happened.. Just more work...

[fun4now]

lramberson

ummmmmm thats some hobbie shop you got going there WOW!!!

boy could i use a hobbie like youres

Agree with Fun4Now, you need to go with your gut but when you need the power it is tough to realize you cut yourself short for a couple of bucks when it will take alot more too fix your error..
Go with something you can grow into (Like a 302G) That is my next big fall.. and this started out as a hobby