Bought a Miller Multimatic 200

[dragoneggs]

I bought the spool mate w/ my MM211 transformer some time ago. Still haven't used the spool mate for aluminum. This was on my xmas break list to play with but didn't happen. Someone please give me an idea for an aluminum project! Every project seems to gravitate towards cheaper steel that I know I can handle.

 

[Sodo]

Good tip, anxious to try it. Very satisfying when an aluminum weld comes out nice. Cuz often I can't even guess what changed weld-to-weld, and they come out different.

 

[Sodo]

OK I've been doing some of the things you guys suggested and the welds are better and more consistent.

With the Spoolmate100, which is really a "cheap" device. IT sure does NOT look like $315 SRP. It looks like $115. But anyway it seems to work. I started cleaning my welds with An "Aluminum weld cleaner". It's phosphoric acid. It was $7 for 1 quart, and I just wipe it on with a paper towel, let it sit 2 minutes, wipe off with a dry towel, then a wet (water towel) then dry.

- Pre-clean weld area with "Aluminum weld cleaner"
- Wirebrush with a dedicated SS brush
- PUSH the MIG, with about 3/4" stickout

I was amazed how much difference it makes to PUSH the MIG. It's not like steel, where you can work out out either way. It wants to be pushed and sounds like a sizzling egg. To start I trim the wire back to about 1/4" so the gas gets there before the wire. Not sure if this is the bomb but I've been doing it.

This is a 1/4" x 1 flatbar welded onto 1.5 x 1.5 x .120 sq tube

 

[Shield Arc]

Keep practicing with your spool gun:thumbsup:. When I bought my spool gun, I hadn't run one since the late 1970s. I ran this corner joint on 16-GA aluminum.
Took a little bit, to get it dialed in!

 

[Sodo]

I'd be real happy with a lesser weld than that....

 

[Sodo]

I can't complain about this Spoolmate100 .... Beads on 1/8" thick aluminum.

This is about 1/2" stick-out, moving FAST.

 

[dragoneggs]

I can't complain about this Spoolmate100 .... Beads on 1/8" thick aluminum.

This is about 1/2" stick-out, moving FAST.

Thanks Sodo, I guess I am going to have to pull my SpoolMate out of the brand new box and give it a try on some Aluminum. It has been sitting there staring at me for about two years now!

 

[Sodo]

Mine sat for longer than that.
You'll need 100% argon.

 

[dragoneggs]

Mine sat for longer than that.
You'll need 100% argon.

Yeah that is one good reason I haven't got off the dime. Maybe I should go looking for a bottle.

 

[fried1765]

Yeah that is one good reason I haven't got off the dime. Maybe I should go looking for a bottle.

Got a Hobart SpoolRunner 100 (Hobart's aluminum gun) last month as part of a new (240V) Hobart Handler 190 MIG package.
Just sold the SpoolRunner on E-Bay last week.
I would likely never have used it, and would need to buy a tank of argon if I did.
Selling the SpoolRunner, brought the actual cost of the brand new (240V) Hobart Handler 190 down to a net of $455 (free shipping, and no tax).
The on sale price of the (240V) Hobart Handler 190, alone, at TSC, is currently $695, including tax.
I am a very happy camper!