Lincoln spec : 180t & aluminum

[trstek]

What do you think of this?

Lincoln has this published in the power mig 180t spec as welding aluminum :

22ga to 3/16" aluminum with superglaze 4043, single pass

Has anyone welded or watched this machine weld aluminum? It does not mention pulse, but states "outstanding aluminum and stainless performance".

My disclaimer: I have not welded with this configuration, just read the spec, and have an honest question as to has anyone used the machine to weld aluminum and what they think.

Thank you,
Tom

[fun4now]

i would think birds nesting would be a problem with 4043,wire but using 5*** series should be doable just as it is on the miller 180. i would say its all about the feeding of the wire, add a spool gun and you are looking at a hole new ball game, dose it mention a spool gun option???

[trstek]

here is the link to the pdf :

http://content.lincolnelectric.com/pdfs/products/literature/e724.pdf

2nd page is the spool gun, 3rd page is the aluminum spec.

Good deal Coal, how do you like the machine? The spec's on it are robust.

[KB Fabrications]

Yes, the 180 has a spool gun option. Ny LWS should have my spoolgun in this upcoming week, will let you know how it goes if nobody else here has one first.
Good luck on that. The one I played around with was a piece of crap IMHO. That thing was so cheaply built (what you you expect for $200 list) that I would not expect it to hold up except under the most delicate of circumstances. The drive roll tensioner is just a little piece of spring steel (mounted into some plastic slots) and has no real means of adjustment. I for one will be interested to see what you think of it.

[DDA52]

I don't know if it is a piece of junk or not, but I was definitely underwhelmed by its construction. Way too much plastic for me. But then that seems to be the direction of things these days. I guess as long as it works.:rolleyes:


I'll just stay with my blue ones.;)

[Scott V]

I will say the 140c and and the Lincoln Spool-gun worked pretty well for what it was. The Miller 3035 is a much better gun in every aspect, and I know the Lincoln gun has put pressure on Miller to lower their price on the new system coming out. That is good news for everyone. (except Lincoln):D

PS- the MM-180 is more then a match for the Lincoln machine. I was surprised how nice and
crisp that machine is.

[fun4now]

i think it would be nice if miller would intergrate the controles for the spool gun into the smaller welder right off the start, adding a gun is expensive enough but then you also have to buy a controler. by the time you do that it would be cheaper to get a MM212.

[trstek]

Yes, the 180 has a spool gun option. Ny LWS should have my spoolgun in this upcoming week, will let you know how it goes if nobody else here has one first.

Coal, had any time to work with the spool gun yet?

[trstek]

good deal, keep us posted after you get it dialed in.

Thanks for the update, Tom

[fun4now]

cool, glad its working for ya.:) how about a few pic's.:D

[trstek]

Thanks Coal, appreciate the update.

Tom

[johnny_waz]

Wow, not bad at all!
Looks promising for the light duty user.

[KB Fabrications]

Not bad at all for the first test drive Coal. ;) Keep up the good work. :cool:

[fun4now]

not bad at all, looks like thats going to be a real time saver for ya once ya get it down pat. you always have TIG till then, but some of them beads look sellable.:D

[KB Fabrications]

.....if you don't hurry up and get moving the second you strike the arc, bad things start to happen;) I was so used to being able to take my time with tig that it caught me off gaurd with the spoolgun.:o
When the cordless mig guns (and spoolguns) come out, they will have a pause button so you don't have to worry about that. :eek: :D :p

[johnny_waz]

One thing I noticed right away is that the penetration with wire is more than I thought it would be and if you don't hurry up and get moving the second you strike the arc, bad things start to happen;) I was so used to being able to take my time with tig that it caught me off gaurd with the spoolgun.:o

I noticed that to when I stareted using my lincoln cobramatic. Better keep moving or the material piles up on the back side. First time I used it, I was like, where is all the wire going? Oh ya now I see:D its all on the backside of the part. Oops!:o That aluminum is a whole different animal, thats for sure.

Anyways, have fun with your new toy. And keep us informed of your progress with pics.

[trstek]

Coal, thanks for the updates. sounds like it is a decent unit. be interested in hearing how close to the published spec it works. the marketing materials show a guy with a canoe he just fixed up.

have to say, for someone like myself it sounds like a pretty good deal.

[trstek]

Coal,

Any updates on the set up?

Thanks,
Tom

[trstek]

Thanks for the update Coal, good to hear it is going well and you are busy.

Sounds like a solid unit for reasonable money.
Tom

[PontiacRacer]

I have the magnum spool gun for my 180C and for the $180 that it costs you can't beat it. For a hobby guy like me it's nice to have a cheap option to weld aluminum. I've welded some 1/16" alum. with it even although it does a much nicer job on 1/8" and thicker alum. Only down side is it's pretty sensitive to dirty metal and things can get ugly in a hurry. I found that on dirty metal the filler wire acts like a poor mans plasma cutter. :D Since I have a TIG now (didn't have one when I bought the spool gun originally) it's unlikely I'd ever go back to the MIG on alumimum though. TIG is just so much nicer, but way more $$ and slower too.

Craig