Multi use machine and spool gun?

[yarg]

Hello to all of you practiced welders.
I am still developing my choice of direction on new multi unit purchase.
I am looking at the many MTS types in the 160 to 180A range. Many are simmilar but here are my questions for this final sellection need:

1. I was thinking of an Argon tank for this unit and keep it that way as I have a 251 Lincoln Mig with 25/75 now. Set up a spool gun and use it for occational Alum and SSteel. Use the unit for my stick needs and sell my small Lincoln stick machine.
Is this a good plan and will I find a spool gun easy and functional for both Alum and SS?
2. I am thinking of rounding out my shop needs by putting aside my chop saw and getting a cold cut in it's place, like the Makita. Picking up a 50 or 60 amp Plasma with pilot for my other cutting needs as I have seldom used my OP tourch in years. Would these cutting tools be all I would need for 1/2 down stock (flats, rounds, angle and channel) of all sorts and clean cuts for some fine needs?

Thanks,
Gray

 

[CNC Dan]

you're going to need three tanks of gas to do that:
mig steel= C25 or 100% co2
mig stainless =tri mix or 2% o2
mig aluminum= 100% argon.

tig steel = 100% argon
tig stainless= 100% argon
tig aluminum=100% argon

 

[yarg]

CNC Dan,
What I am seeing is that I could go 100% argon but use the spool mig feature for Alum. and tig feature for SS? The o2 must mean it has to be hotter for SS?
Would the mig or tig make for easier or better SS welding? I do little of it but if I needed to , I would like the easiest and best option.
Gray

 

[Shield Arc]

In my opinion spool guns, along with push pull guns are cumbersome! So the only reason any body would use them over Tig is for speed. The last time I did any stainless steel Mig was in the 70s so I don't remember a lot about it, but we used regular Mig guns for it. I think you need to ask your self how much stainless steel Mig work will you do that justifies having an extra bottle around, if not all that much, why not just Tig weld it?

 

[CliffordK]

Another option is to find a good suitcase welder attachment that could be plugged in, but could take a full sized spool of wire.

 

[yarg]

Just read that one maker says you can go alum. Wire in their machine if you stick to .040 or bigger?
I thnking this would either require a change of the lining each time or a second mig gun set up with the alum lining? I have read that often there is trouble with alum through a standard gun but if the maker says ok, is that really true?

 

[Shield Arc]

Sometimes you can get away with it, if you use U-groove drive rolls, nylon liner, no more than 10-feet long gun, keep the gun as straight as possible at all times. And if you can, raise the feeder above the work.
Other wise piece of cake!

 

[CNC Dan]

CNC Dan,
What I am seeing is that I could go 100% argon but use the spool mig feature for Alum. and tig feature for SS? The o2 must mean it has to be hotter for SS?
Would the mig or tig make for easier or better SS welding? I do little of it but if I needed to , I would like the easiest and best option.
Gray

Then just use TIG for the SS. It's better, but slower.

I'm not sure what the deal with the o2 in the argon for SS is.

In your situation, I would get a bottle of argon for tig steel and SS and mig AL to start with and see if you can use gassless flux core wire to mig steel. If the fluxcore doesn't cut it for you, get a second bottle of C25 for steel mig.

 

[yarg]

Thanks Dan,

I do have a MIG all set for steel and will keep it that way. I am looking for the Alum and SS options from a second machine. It looks like I may get a tank of argon and a tig torch for SS and a spool gun for Alum. Then the machine will have the stick option if all else and cast is needed
So here is what I think the end result is for now:
1. My current Lincoln 252 mig on 25/75 for steel
2. A multi process machine on all argon for spool gun mig on alum. and tig on SS.
3. A cold cut saw for most straight cuts
4. Plasma for thick and complex cuts
5. Chop saw for ugly stuff

One after thought: Tweco makes nylon liners for mig guns. Could I skip the spool gun as this unit would only be used for Alum on mig and SS on tig and go with the liner idea?

Sound like a plan?
Gray

 

[mrmikey]

Have you considered the Thermal Arc 181i Thermal Arc , I bought one a while back and so far it's a great working machine, as long as you realize it's not a production unit and expect to burn 5/32 7018's all day. It will burn them no problem with lots of heat but not for 8 hours a day. The leads (small ga.) are the visable limiting factor and I would assume the insides are similar.

Wirefeed works great, it is a light drive system but better than some of the other Chinese imports, it's aluminum as opposed to plastic. Bit of a pia to change from 8" to 4" rolls but nothing you can't live with, a bit awkward to feed the wire into the gun liner as the area is cramped but it's livable for the times you have to deal with it. Gun is a .....Tweco 180 I think (can't rememeber right now) and doesn't use odd consumables.

Power cord is nice and long so you may not need an extension.

I've used mine quite a bit on s/s tig, mig and stick and I have no complaints. I tried the gasless wire for for the heck of it as I never had much faith in it but I must say, I was quite surprised at the quality of the weld.

It's a DC only machine so aluminum tig is out but for s/s or steel the lift arc is great. The only thing I don't like is the torch has a manual gas valve so you have to rememeber to turn it on an off, forget to do one or the other and it'll either be expensive (wasting gas) or messy ( forgetting to turn it on). The torch is very comfortable, nice swivel on the inlet end so there's no drag from the lead and the trigger is very ergomatically(sp) placed. You can set up the trigger to latch (electrically) or have to hold it down as well as taper off the heat when you end your weld for crater filling

I'm considering getting the aluminum gun for it but can't justify it so far as it's around $300 here. I did use one for a trial when the salesman had one in the shop for a demo and even tho it was a light gun and wouldn't survive with Bubba the ape using it, for yourself, I wouldn't hesitate as you're going to look after your own gear better. As long as you realize it's not a Spoolmatic gun and start abusing it, I don't think you'd have a problem.

And not I don't work for TA LOL......Mike