What mig to get for aluminum??

[Gomer pyle]

I'm in the process of building my shop(slow process by myself). I plan to build my door out of 2x4 1/4" aluminum, so I will be needing a new welder. My old welder is a Snap-On branded Systematics power source with a Miller wire feed. I like this welder a lot but after a scare earlier this year, I hate to put more money in a machine that I have a hard time getting parts for.

I believe I want to use a spool gun because aluminum projects aren't that often and the filler oxidizes if it sets too long.

I found a used Lincoln 350MP that I like the sound of but it's part of a package deal that puts the price a little high and I don't really want some of the other things. I was looking at a new Lincoln 260 earlier this year that I liked the look of but does it have everything I need?

Whatever machine I get will probably end up replacing my current setup. I want a minimum of 250 amp. I don't care anything about tig so I'm not sure I need a multipurpose machine. I don't know about or quite understand pulse or pulse on pulse? I'm not set on new or used but if I can save a few $$ I can get the Ellis bandsaw I've been wanting(that's a whole nother post)!

 

[yomax4]

I'm in the process of building my shop(slow process by myself). I plan to build my door out of 2x4 1/4" aluminum, so I will be needing a new welder. My old welder is a Snap-On branded Systematics power source with a Miller wire feed. I like this welder a lot but after a scare earlier this year, I hate to put more money in a machine that I have a hard time getting parts for.

I believe I want to use a spool gun because aluminum projects aren't that often and the filler oxidizes if it sets too long.

I found a used Lincoln 350MP that I like the sound of but it's part of a package deal that puts the price a little high and I don't really want some of the other things. I was looking at a new Lincoln 260 earlier this year that I liked the look of but does it have everything I need?

Whatever machine I get will probably end up replacing my current setup. I want a minimum of 250 amp. I don't care anything about tig so I'm not sure I need a multipurpose machine. I don't know about or quite understand pulse or pulse on pulse? I'm not set on new or used but if I can save a few $$ I can get the Ellis bandsaw I've been wanting(that's a whole nother post)!

Any 250 machine out there is spool gun capable. I'm not a big spoolgun fan but if done correctly they will get you by. They start cold and finish hot so sometimes it's best to start in the middle. Pulse is better, Twin pulse is best. Good Luck..

 

[Gomer pyle]

Any 250 machine out there is spool gun capable. I'm not a big spoolgun fan but if done correctly they will get you by. They start cold and finish hot so sometimes it's best to start in the middle. Pulse is better, Twin pulse is best. Good Luck..

Do you like a push/pull set up better than a spool gun or are you talking about a dedicated machine?
Any particular 250+ machine you recommend?

 

[Oldpath05]

To me spool guns are a added expense and not really needed if under 10' on a whip, but a small Miller 211 is spool gun capable but last time I welded aluminum I put a plastic liner in the gun so the aluminum wire would feed better then change the feed rolls and Miller feed rolls change easy. My Millermatic is 7 years old, this is the newer version of the Millermatic<<<<<< Miller Millermatic 211 MIG Welder with Advanced Auto-Set (9?7614) 715959598545 | eBay

 

[Gomer pyle]

That’s basically the same money as a spoolgun. I did not think about a plastic liner. Did it run smooth, anything special you had to do? I assume, be careful to keep the whip straight?

 

[Oldpath05]

I never welded much aluminum but the plastic liner made the wire run smooth enough for me to notice, the wire size was .035-ish, bigger wire might not notice the difference, it was 20 years ago so a little fog is setting in. I remember going to the welding supply store and getting one after I complaining about the feed trouble I was having on my 10' whip. I think you have to make sure you get the liner that fits your whip where it plugs in the welder and cut to length AFTER you put it in the whip, steel wire will eat the plastic liner right up.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

A Pulse MIG is an awesome thing. From the experience with the Miller 350P in pulse to the Everlast models I've had, not all pulse is the same, but any pulse is better than none. Having pulse on pulse and standard single pulse is the way to go and expands your options. The Everlast model excels in both and feature plenty of fine tuning ability. The algorithms from what I've experienced are much more complex. But even the 350P I've used does make welding out of position quite easy.

 

[Bearsixty7]

A Pulse MIG is an awesome thing. From the experience with the Miller 350P in pulse to the Everlast models I've had, not all pulse is the same, but any pulse is better than none. Having pulse on pulse and standard single pulse is the way to go and expands your options. The Everlast model excels in both and feature plenty of fine tuning ability. The algorithms from what I've experienced are much more complex. But even the 350P I've used does make welding out of position quite easy.

Which model do you recommend and what kind of price are we looking at?

 

[MickeyDBC]

I have migged a lot of aluminum with a Miller 252 with a spool gun and will say that aluminum takes a lot of practice to get to look good. Aluminum also moves a lot more from thermal expansion than steel does so it takes a new mindset to keep everything true - very easy to have things warp a lot or crack on cool down.

 

[user.69169]

I'm in the process of building my shop(slow process by myself). I plan to build my door out of 2x4 1/4" aluminum, so I will be needing a new welder. My old welder is a Snap-On branded Systematics power source with a Miller wire feed. I like this welder a lot but after a scare earlier this year, I hate to put more money in a machine that I have a hard time getting parts for.

Gomer, yu got my curioscity going. My go to MIG for Aluminum & SS is a dedicated CK Systematics I picked up for a song.

What parts are you encountering difficulty finding? Systematics split into 2 companies, MIG & TIG a while back, and the MIG people are still doing fine in Pennsylvania. Most cooperative and helpful people, quite similar to the wonderful service you get from HTP. I hunch both companies are small players in the world market and small enough to serve you and glad to do so.

Systematics MIG power units have a very clean DC output. I've put it on a scope.

Mine is set up with a spoolgun since we do very ittle aluminum or SS.