Some questions about spool guns

[Kebab]

I have a job coming up which will require some aluminum frames to be made out of 2" tubing. I have an older Lincoln electric 175 tig welder, but the tubing I need to weld is going to be around 3/16 to 1/4 thick and that's a bit much for it. I was looking into a spool gun setup to make the welding process faster. I was looking into purchasing a new Lincoln 180 dual mig welder and getting the Magnum pro 100sg spool gun. It's a lighter duty gun and I'm not sure if it or the 180 dual are heavy enough for that tubing. I have no experience with spool guns and was wondering if someone could point me in the right direction and answer some questions.

Thanks

[thegary]

I have a job coming up which will require some aluminum frames to be made out of 2" tubing. I have an older Lincoln electric 175 tig welder, but the tubing I need to weld is going to be around 3/16 to 1/4 thick and that's a bit much for it. I was looking into a spool gun setup to make the welding process faster. I was looking into purchasing a new Lincoln 180 dual mig welder and getting the Magnum pro 100sg spool gun. It's a lighter duty gun and I'm not sure if it or the 180 dual are heavy enough for that tubing. I have no experience with spool guns and was wondering if someone could point me in the right direction and answer some questions.

Thanks

You can weld it with your 175, just preheat it to about 200-250 degrees and go to it. Easy,peasy. Mig welding it will not look all that good. If you do get another machine go to at least 200 amps. It will be much more versatile. The 180 would be able to mig weld 1/4" with the spool gun but it is not much of a trade up from your 175.

[Kebab]

You can weld it with your 175, just preheat it to about 200-250 degrees and go to it. Easy,peasy. Mig welding it will not look all that good. If you do get another machine go to at least 200 amps. It will be much more versatile. The 180 would be able to mig weld 1/4" with the spool gun but it is not much of a trade up from your 175.

Thanks for the answer!

I typically like to tig weld as much as I can, unfortunately in this case production speed is most important. The frames are quite large so i'll probably be welding on the floor of my shop and moving around a lot. None of these frames will be seen as they will all be closed in. So the looks don't matter that much. They're basically just aluminum frames to make wall panels for a display. I have a lincoln 255 machine at my shop, however pricing out a spool gun for that machine from a local supplier was around $2000 CAD. Apparently I can't run the 100SG on my 255. So for about the same cost as the larger spool gun ($100 more or so) I can get the 180 dual welder and the 100SG spool gun. Then I have a machine in my shop that's setup and ready to go for future jobs. My main concern was that I'd be able to weld aluminum that thick with the smaller machine.

[John T]

My main concern was that I'd be able to weld aluminum that thick with the smaller machine.

Helium mix?

[Kebab]

Helium mix?

From what I was reading I can just use pure argon. Are there benefits of using a helium mix instead?

[John T]

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[motolife313]

Welcome to the forum kebab !

[Kebab]

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Oh wow! I think I'm gonna look into getting helium at my shop

Welcome to the forum kebab !

Thanks!

[Broccoli1]

You'll be pushing the upper limits of the 180 and SG spool gun welding 1/4" AL for any length of time.

And it is only a 10' whip- It will be useless is you need to move around a lot for production speed.

[prconnection]

^^^^^
Exactly what Ed said. If u are going to invest the. Do it once. Look at the miller 350p with 30A spool gun and 25ft leads. It’s a dual welder with huge capabilities. You will spend more the 2 k but you will never spend again based on it capabilities.

Currently my shop runs 3 millers.
350 p as mentioned with 045 Dual shield set up and 035 aluminum in spool gun
350 dynasty
Millermatic 211 set up with 025 hardwire for the little stuff

With the right equipment you will save nothing but time on your jobs

[Broccoli1]

PR- he already owns a Lincoln 255 so he does have a machine capable- just needs the Spoolgun.

[Broccoli1]

Dang- looks like he will need an adapter kit too if it is just the regular 255 and not the 255C

K2310-1


Top Features
Enables the Power MIG 255 wire feeder welder to accept the K2490-1 Magnum® 250LX, K487- 25 Magnum® SG Spool Gun or a Prince XL Spool Gun. Includes K1738-1 Spool Gun holder. Note: Power MIG 255C does not require adapter.


https://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-u...ncolnElectric)

[soutthpaw]

Why not get this and run it off your 255, no adapter needed. https://www.amazon.com/Ready-Welder-.../dp/B004N4SCQS

[Kebab]

You'll be pushing the upper limits of the 180 and SG spool gun welding 1/4" AL for any length of time.

And it is only a 10' whip- It will be useless is you need to move around a lot for production speed.

Looking on Lincolns site more and more I noticed that even the 210 with a spool gun says 3/16 aluminum. I'd like to think a good helium mix would make it so I could weld 1/4, but as you mentioned i'll probably be close to the edge of what it'll do. However if 1/4 is a large as I'm going to weld with it, I wonder how the 210 would perform?

The 10' whip is a pain in the ***. Is there any way to get a longer lead for it?

^^^^^
Exactly what Ed said. If u are going to invest the. Do it once. Look at the miller 350p with 30A spool gun and 25ft leads. It’s a dual welder with huge capabilities. You will spend more the 2 k but you will never spend again based on it capabilities.

Currently my shop runs 3 millers.
350 p as mentioned with 045 Dual shield set up and 035 aluminum in spool gun
350 dynasty
Millermatic 211 set up with 025 hardwire for the little stuff

With the right equipment you will save nothing but time on your jobs

I'll find out what the pricing on that stuff is tomorrow. the 350P and the 30' gun

Dang- looks like he will need an adapter kit too if it is just the regular 255 and not the 255C

K2310-1


Top Features
Enables the Power MIG 255 wire feeder welder to accept the K2490-1 Magnum® 250LX, K487- 25 Magnum® SG Spool Gun or a Prince XL Spool Gun. Includes K1738-1 Spool Gun holder. Note: Power MIG 255C does not require adapter.


https://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-u...ncolnElectric)

It's just the regular ol' 255. Both the spool guns that would fit the machine were about $2000 plus the $300 ish adapter

[thegary]

I would call HTP at USAweld.com and talk to them about their spool gun . I think it will be much more cost effective and they are a decent spool gun. They can set up their spool gun for most machines.

Also preheating works for miging aluminum too.

[pgk]

I like to tig most of the time to, but if appearance isn't a big deal my vote would be mig hands down.

[Kebab]

Its looking like I can't get a longer whip for the 100sg. So now I'm looking at the larger Lincoln spool gun with the 25' whip. I can put it on my good ol' 255. However is there any reason to go with a newer welder for welding aluminum?

[Bonzoo]

Its looking like I can't get a longer whip for the 100sg. So now I'm looking at the larger Lincoln spool gun with the 25' whip. I can put it on my good ol' 255. However is there any reason to go with a newer welder for welding aluminum?

CALL HTP... Talk to Diana usawelds 800-872-9353