Got the new Everlast SM200N aluminum spool gun to learn aluminum mig welding!

[Agape Guy]

Just got the new SM200N Everlast spool gun, so I can start learning to do 1/8-inch thick aluminum mig welding. And I'm already REALLY liking the 20-foot cable! My machine is the reliable Power I-MIG 200, which now has another nice-quality Everlast component to work with. The spool gun is partly plastic, but the plastic housing portion holding the wire roll seems pretty robust, sturdy for it being plastic (as opposed to thin, flimsy feeling plastic). Will be able to try it out in a couple of weeks, so pretty excited about that to share my first-use impressions. Now ordering .030 and .035 1-lb rolls of 4043 and 5356 aluminum wire, a couple of small acetone bottles, a dedicated stainless steel brush, along with gathering scrap aluminum to practice on, just to get going. The gun did not come with a case, but a beefy Harbor Freight Apache 4800 plastic storage case works perfectly -- only $60 with a coupon. Now I feel closer to getting back any welding mojo that I had before several years ago, when I was DIY welding mild carbon steel pretty regularly. So hey, any tips on mig welding 1/8" aluminum with a spool gun will be grandly appreciated. (Spent most of last night looking at "Jody's" videos on weldingtipsandtricks. ��)

[BillE.Dee]

make sure the material is CLEAN, then clean it again. 100% argon and push the puddle. All the best...report back.

[Agape Guy]

Got a bar of aluminum and some acetone bottles, in the mail today. Still gathering materials and supplies.

[Agape Guy]

What angle should be the spool gun, when welding? Near vertical at 90 degrees? Or 10 degrees away from 90 in the push direction? I know that "push" is the recommended method, but what about angle? Spent my first day also trying to figure out the voltage and ER5356 wire speed settings on my I-MIG 200 for my first tries with a spool gun on 1/8" and 14-gauge scrap aluminum pieces. Bottle of 100% argon gas setting was 22 cfh. Used a stainless steel dedicated wire brush and acetone to clean clean clean the pieces before welding to start that new habit and keep it going. For the thinner 10-gauge aluminum, I also noticed that you really have to keep the puddle moving with a purpose to avoid burn through. I won't go thinner than 10-gauge and probably mostly 1/8" or 3/16" max thickness for my purposes. The technique and angle will take some getting used to. But it's exciting!

[BaTu]

That acetone looks like it might be costing you a lot

Go to the local HD/Lowes and buy a gallon in the paint department then put it in this -> https://www.amazon.com/Economy-Bottl.../dp/B00WTHLR18

I too am getting the feel of a new Alum Mig welder and learned a quick lesson about getting it adjusted "just right". The coupons need to cool down before you weld on one again. Even if it's just a couple of hundred degrees, it makes a pass-to-pass comparison invalid. Do what you can, even if you have to pay for them, to get a Bunch of coupons to practice with...

[lugweld]

Don't try to short circuit with it. It should be in spray mode.