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.

 

[Oldpath05]

Miller 252 with spoolgun, now we're really into big bucks!!!! I know someone at work that bought a Miller 252 package two years ago, he likes it but he acquired a big aluminum truck bed repair to help pay for it and thats where a long spoolgun comes in handy. So if one can get some aluminum welding jobs on the side a Miller 252 is a good option. Millermatic 252 MIG Pkg with Spoolmatic 30A 208/230 Volt 951066

 

[Oldpath05]

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.

Does Everlast have a welder spoolgun combo similar to the Miller 252 spoolgun package?

 

[Oldpath05]

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.
!

Shop building can sometimes be a interesting subject, this shop door you want to make has me curious, is this like a sliding barn door stile and how big a shop you doing? We also like seeing pictures of this shop building and this door build when you time. I like that TV show to..........

 

[Gomer pyle]

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.

Long story short, I had to unexpectedly move and did not have anywhere to store my welder, tools, etc... so they went to my grandfathers shed. Mice got in everything. They chewed some wires up in my wire feed. It is a Miller unit (2000ish)but Miller has stopped making parts for it. I called Systematics(very friendly and helpful) for two things. One to check on parts availability and two to see if they had a wire feed setup for aluminum. They basically told me I would have to ship my machine to them(my serial name plate is missing) for them to even know if parts were available and not all parts are available.
I really like my setup, but am skittish about putting more money into it if there might not be parts later on for it.

 

[Gomer pyle]

Shop building can sometimes be a interesting subject, this shop door you want to make has me curious, is this like a sliding barn door stile and how big a shop you doing? We also like seeing pictures of this shop building and this door build when you time. I like that TV show to..........

It is a 30' wide by 13' tall door that will hinge at the top. Two hydraulic cylinders will raise it and a safety to keep it from falling(I haven't figured that one out yet). My plan is to have great access into my shop plus have an extra awning for summertime heat, plus take my grinding and other dirty work out there.

 

[Oldpath05]

WOW WOW and WOW, a hydraulic lifting door this size I gotta see, so when it's done post a picture............

 

[grsthegreat]

It is a 30' wide by 13' tall door that will hinge at the top. Two hydraulic cylinders will raise it and a safety to keep it from falling(I haven't figured that one out yet). My plan is to have great access into my shop plus have an extra awning for summertime heat, plus take my grinding and other dirty work out there.

sounds like a aircraft hanger door...hinge at top and middle.

 

[Oldpath05]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Thats what I was thinking.

 

[Gomer pyle]

Yes, basically an aircraft door but not a bifold. I’ve seen a couple out there but not exactly what I want, so I’m gonna try it my way. It’ll cut almost 1000lbs if I use aluminum.

 

[user.69169]

Off top of my head, Systematics only built less than a dozen machine models for dat red company favored by lizzie beens around the world before the red guys went to another builder for a cheaper contraption their truck mounted peddlers couldn't understand.
Seems like there is a web site wid all de informaton on it, Home might just get you rolling.

Your hydraulic elevating wall is a complete different issue.
1st thing about such is it requires a whole lot ore frame tied to the building than most people realize or it becomes a nightmare fast.
2nd thing is the big kite MUST be both light weight and monolithic. Best systems in terms of service life employ light steel frame with either steel or aluminum skin. Most also employ an external truss across bottom of the door to minimize deflection. Best ones also truss the top and sides to loose weight while gaining strength. Sort of a expansion of what lathers been doing for 100 years with light framework held together by only tie wire.

And then there are the hydraulics. Easy enough if you are going to stand there operating the door and a complete nightmare if you want to push a button and let the flying wing open itself.

It's doable, but is it worth doing? Fellow I know took 4 12 foot OH insulated door panels and converted them to a 10 foot wide bifold that works quite well. Counterweighted by a few patio slabs hanging from cables. Worked out nicely and he don't have $50- into it. Big advantage to bifold around here is no need to clear snow before opening de door. That whole project got modeled wid popsicle sticks and shirt cardboards before any steel was cut.