bigislandc2

Anyone use a spool gun?? Was gonna weld up some charge pipes with it with my miller 211 and figure for a couple hundred bucks for the spool gun and might get some good results after practice. I'd do TIG if I had one so this is the next best thing.
Post pics if any of you have any

v8killaz

Ive used them. works great for thicker stuff never tried on thinner stuff and never would. Thats what tig is for, I couldn't imagine welding out of position with a big spool gun on tubing. It can def. be done though

Hidenplanvew

I have heard it makes the welds look (black),nasty, it dosent have the cleaning effect that tig has. I havent personally used one say I cant say.

v8killaz

thats not true. they looks great, sometimes just as good as tig. and you dont need much cleaning action if you clean beforehand

Hidenplanvew

Im just going off stuff I have heard, I love to tig Alum so I dont bother. Good to know tho, I wish someone could post up some welds done with a spool gun.

cfoss

I've used both. I like to TIG because of the finish, but it is slower, and you require a larger power source compared to mig/spool gun. Plus, Mig is DC for AL, rather than AC with high frequency for TIG, so the equipment required is easier to find.

I spool gunned .060 material with .035 wire (4043) and it was tricky. On 1/8 to 1/4 it's pretty easy. You must clean well (SS Wire brush) and also degrease with acetone for a really good weld.

The trickiest part to the spool gun is that you can't change the heat input on the fly. With the TIG you have the pedal so it's easier. This is particularly important with AL.

At first, AL will want lots of heat, then as the part warms up it wants less and less. So, with the MIG you either start cold and finish right, or you start well and finish really hot.

The way around this is preheating. This allows for much less initial heat required so the effect, while present, is minimized.

Remember to use 100% Ar and you're good to go.

Chay

sleepencivic

you have to push and not pull the spool gun when welding or it will leave soot.