Maintenance & Technical > KX500 Original

Welding Setup...?

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mikesmith:
I have both a 220 and 110,and for the welding you want to do Id suggest a Hobart Handler 120(not the cheaper one).Its a decent price,no wiring 220 in the garage,reliable,and welds GREAT!Ive had one for 10 years no problems,and you can weld aluminum (but TIG is the best for that).A TIG is best,but Id suggest having a MIG first,learning on it and if you want to move up buy a TIG as your second welder.And if you dont get the Hobart Handler Id suggest a Miller for any thing else,just be honest for what your going to use it for and how often,my 2 cents.

kawdude:

--- Quote from: Rick --- I also weld aluminum without the extra controls, and after practice, can work with aluinum as thin as 18".  Rick
--- End quote ---


Rick what setup are you using on mig for aluminum?

I have a older 220 Miller Mig that works well on most.  I also second the remarks on the 110 Mig welders.  I bought one first and used it but burned it up.  No matter what you buy pay attention to the duty cycle.  The 110 version had something like a 20% duty cycle which means you use it 2 minutes out of 10 and let it cool for 8 minutes.  I didn't know that and the unit basically went up in smoke.

fast500#12:
:oops:   oops i always get those backwards, have for years. any way you still get what i mean i hope. thanks for the correction woody. :wink:

Rick:
Actually, all I did was purchase a roll of solid aluminum .35 wire (and argon) and run the wire through the wand.  I found that when welding alumium you have to run your wire speed up pretty high as compared to steel.  For 1/8", I use wire speed of 75 and power of 1.  Sounds odd, but it works to get that balance between putting material on top of the work surface, and getting it to penetrate without deforming the work material.  For 5/16 or 3/8 aluminum, I use 95 wire speed and power setting of 3-3.5.  I have also found that I need to allow the aluminum wire to protrude a little more from the end of the gun, but with the shielding gas at 35, this has not been a problem.

Ah yea, I read my first post, and notice I put 18".  Hmmm.  That should be 1/8".  Drrrr.

Rick

mikesmith:
Not that Im pushing the Hobart,but I havent had a problem in 10 years of use and use it way more than my 220,my Father in Law used one in his body shop.What kind of 110's were you guys using that burned up so fast?

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