Looking to get aluminum spool gun for my MIG and looking for input from those with one. Welder is miller,older and have to check to tell you exact one.Mostly use tig,but not for trailer build I am planning.

i have a lincoln tig / stick. i have an eastwood mig - both 220v and i have the spoolgun for the eastwood. i would say, if you have production or alot of aluminum welding then it can be useful, however it wont look like or be as nice a quality as a tig aluminum. gas pressure is key IMO. It can be used for certain applications. i like having them all, just in case.

As stated its for trailer build. The word a lot of aluminum weld is under statement.

I believe it is probably the best tool for that job. The main headache is the soft wire and how it will get hung up in the gun. Also the feed burn off in a ball and gets jammed in the gun. By the time ur done with the trailer u should be an expert!!

Yea nothing like on the job training.

I got rid of my shop 14 years ago so this is from memory which at best is iffy. I had a Miller 180 mig welder and the local welding supplier supplied me with a 1lb spool gun that adapted to that machine. That thing worked real good and an idiot could weld with it--even me. My business was mostly Stainless but still did a lot of aluminum. Weld isn't pretty that's for sure but it holds.

It's a little tougher to get heat in the weld when running a mig on aluminum than tig, so keep that in mind. Make some practice welds and try to pull it apart. Other than that it's just welding. Buying a good brand gun will make a difference as with any tool.

Curtis

Thanks Fern. Pretty not important here strength is.

Have welded a lot with the Mig just always used tig on aluminum ,but then no where near this kind of project. I now know why guys who can do pay 30k for aluminum trailer.10k in materials and I know I missed another 2k in extra's.

I was at a trailer factory last year. They build aluminum trailers. No spool guns in sight. Everything I saw was 250ish Miller MIG welders throwing aluminum out of the standard gun on a 6-8' hose. Nice sounding welds to. One guy was tacking aluminum pieces together like steel.

WHat kind of wlders?Everyone I have ever talked with said a standard gun would jamb ten time worst than steel wire when using aluminum. Now its been about ten years since I talked with anyone about it and stuff changes.

I have the Miller 251 with the spool gun add-on. Used on 5 trailers for buzzing up the cracked aluminum rear gates and hinges for slaughter house covered wagons. Haven't used it in years. Right now it's dead money sitting on the floor, complete machine and spool gun.

The only way to Mig aluminum without a spool gun is with a push-pull gun. A Miller XR push-pull gun is about $1500 for their cheapest model and it will not work with an old machine probably.....

Mig welding aluminum is basically a glue-gun and takes some practice....

You MUST keep moving and once you get some heat into the aluminum it goes like butter....

Plan your pass before you make it and let 'er rip....

Run in speed and output voltage very sensitive....

An older Miller power supply will not be just a plug-in and go setup and may not be possible at all to make happen.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SCDIV1,

What little I've used a spool gun on aluminum it seems to weld better if you preheat with a torch .

Thanks guys. Going by welding supply tomorrow and see what they have.

Now if Trump's terr ifs don't byte me in butt on materials. LOL

That mess I had with the miller 180 was 25+ years ago----might not be around any more but it was then.