Upgrading MIG gun and cable

[grsthegreat]

you know, i have a similar unit. I keep it on a rolling cart and just move it around as needed

 

[jwmorris]

In this photo you can see the size difference between one of my Lincoln guns and one of the 15' Tweco guns. Worth noting one is rated for hundreds more amps than the other too.


I too keep it on a cart, it's under the plasma on the sectional aluminum cart. I made it so I can lift them apart so I could load either into the truck if I needed to and not to have to haul both and put up in the shop takes up less space.

 

[Arc weld]

A 25' gun usually has to be special ordered. Off the shelf guns are usually 15' max. A 25' gun would be worth over half the cost of your welder. You're better off with an extension cord for the welder. MUCH cheaper.

 

[BukitCase]

Not sure about Lincolns, but I had a mm211 for about 6 months, wanted a longer gun than the 10 foot that came with it - miller told me the drive wasn't built to push a 15 foot gun, that the drive would likely burn out early and that the warranty would be void if I did it. I was working on a brush bucket for my backhoe at the time, it's 8' x 6' x 2' deep, space was limited around it, and a 10 foot gun wasn't working. I'd bought the spoolmate 100 with the unit, which has a 12 foot cable - got by with that, but when I found a mm252 with dual running gear, 30A spool gun, dual running gear and 2 large bottles for a good price, I went for it.

The 252 has a heftier drive and comes with a 15 foot gun. That's the longest standard gun I've seen, you can get about any length SPOOL gun you want since it's not trying to push wire thru the whole cable - the 30A spool gun is named that because it's 30 feet long.

I think that if you're happy with everything else on your mig, you might be better off just doing some sort of jib crane hanger for the mig, centered to give you the most reach -

Of course a spool gun is another option, they're not JUST for aluminum - the downside of that is wire COST - price a 1 lb. spool of S6 wire, multiply that by 11, then check the price for an 8", 11 lb. spool - (I'm assuming your mig won't take 12" spools, not familiar with it)

Just some things to think about... Steve

 

[CNC Dan]

Of course a spool gun is another option, they're not JUST for aluminum - the downside of that is wire COST - price a 1 lb. spool of S6 wire, multiply that by 11, then check the price for an 8", 11 lb. spool - (I'm assuming your mig won't take 12" spools, not familiar with it)

Save the empty small spool and wind some wire onto it from a large spool. Using a drill to spin the spool will make quick work of it.

 

[Arc weld]

I don't think a drill would wind the wire consistently enough for proper feeding. You could end up wasting a lot of wire. If it's a bench top type machine, it shouldn't be too hard to put close enough to the work. The low end spool guns aren't the greatest but still more expensive than an extension cord for the welder.

 

[CNC Dan]

I don't think a drill would wind the wire consistently enough for proper feeding. You could end up wasting a lot of wire.

It might be a waste of wire. But if I ever get a spoolgun machine, I would have to try it.
And I agree, moving the welder arround the work is likly the best solution.

 

[BukitCase]

Dan, I've considered "rewinding", but Arcweld's comments are exactly why that idea hasn't made the "top ten" on my list of things to try yet (that, and the 15' gun is doing all I need at the moment.)

When I see new spools of wire (all sizes) with perfectly laid turns of wire on them, it makes me wanna either find a level-wind system or just not do it. Maybe some day... Steve

Also, since I'd only be using the spool gun for tacking/light sheet metal, the cost shouldn't be too bad.