Esab 350mpi spool gun

[Kodiak1017]

I am 67 years old and started welding when I was 12. My dad built a gravel conveyor and I did a lot of welding on it. Later on as a teen after I finished school I worked for my dad in a gravel pit and spent my winter in the shop. I did a lot of maintenance welding. A lot of buildup welding. I've worked for various contractors later on as an operator in summer and in the shop in winter. Welding was always part of the job. Then I bought some draglines and that involves a lot of bucket wear. I've put in new floors and ribbing and bucket sides as well. A lot of the rigging involves specialty rods like manganese and various hard facing rods and wire. I've always enjoyed welding and have recently bought a Esab 186 so I can learn TIG welding. Just figuring out the welder seems like quite a project.
I'm looking for information on a spool gun for an Esab 350mpi. I have a ST-23 spool gun for a Migmaster 250. Ideally I'd like to set up the ST-23 to use with my 350mpi. I can't get information from Esab. They tell me there is no way to use a spool gun with the 350mpi. It doesn't have to be an Esab gun. But I'd like at least the quality of the ST-23. The Prefix AEC-200 looks much like the ST-23. Is it possible to make it work with my 350mpi? I'd like to sell my Migmaster if I can get things to work right. Right now I'm only using it to run the spool gun.

[ccawgc]

Call Profax 800-594-3958 Go to profax wed site and look up the AEC 200.
The ST 23 spoolgun was made by Profax for ESAB. The basic AEC 200 spoolgun and the ST -23 are very similar is design.
For the 350 mpi to run a spoolgun it has to operate like a feeder. Has to have its own motor speed control. On the front of the 350mpi are two connectors. A 14 pin and a 19 pin. The 19 pin is the main feeder connector, has 42 and 115 volts to power feeders. the 14 pin has 24 volts. should be able to power a 24volt spoolgun control box. It will be best to call Profax tech/ sales support and ask which control box and spoolgun will work best with your welder and if you can get a control cable made up that will plug in and make a system plug and play.
ESAB and their spoolguns need the speed control to be inside the welder.
You can get the owners manual and all the diagrams for the ESABna wed site.
In the down load library. arc welder/ power supplies.

[Kodiak1017]

I don't think the manual says anything about a spool gun. Thanks, I'll call Profax.

[CAVEMANN]

Welcome!

[Brand X]

If you can find a L-tec/Esab 28 control box it will work with the Esab 350-MPI and ST-23 spool-gun I think it's MT or ST-28? You just have to switch wires around inside the control box.. Was pretty simple to configure. I ran it on my 350 MPI so I know it can be done. That box is for CC or CV power supplies. The little button on the bottom of the ST-23 is wire slow-inch for CC power supplies when using the 28 control.. In case you were wondering..

[Brand X]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ESAB-207515...AAAOSwk~NZwSEB

[Kodiak1017]

Thank you. The MIG-28A controller isn't available from Esab anymore. Thanks for the link. Now I just have to make up my mind if I'm better off keeping my Migmaster 250 just to run the spool gun or to spend a pile of money and have a welder to sell.

[Brand X]

The adjustable voltage, and aluminum slope setting of the 350MPI does makes it a much nicer aluminum welder then a Migmaster 250..Although the fan noise on the 350 mpi is a level above a Migmaster.. (Hard to believe)

[Popeye an old miner]

Welcome....I love workin on those dragline buckets...and whatever else they give me to do. Sorry I cant help you out with the spool gun thing i know nothing about em or welding aluminum...shucks i am surprised i can even spell it right

[Brand X]

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...39884566629825

[Kodiak1017]

Brand X-I agree about the inductance setting, or whatever it’s called. I haven’t tried it with aluminum but it even seems to improve solid wire welds.

[Brand X]

The Aluminum setting is a slope setting, and really only for Spray. Inductance setting is for short-arc welding,and when combined with the proper slope setting gets the machine really dialed in. These are great machines.. Setup with a pulse feeder, and High voltage tig box is quite a system. I had two and most all options for them..