- Thread starter kevanf1
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Well, people have been using alu wire in standard torches for years with no issues.
And, people have been using alu wire in spool guns for years with no issues.
And, some people have issues with standard torches while some other people have issues with spool guns...
Personally, I like my torch to be as lightweight as I can get away with - so I'd be more likely to trim a bit of length if feed issues happened instead of holding up 2kg+ of loaded spool gun
If my 2 wheel feed unit was the cause of the problem, I'd swap in a 4 wheeler for roughly the same cost as a low-mid spooler.
That's me though, and you is one thing I'm not.
Very true. My concerns and hence thoughts of getting hold of a spool gun have all come about due to third party reports of problems. I will add that there are probably an equal if not higher number of people who have been quite happy and successfully MiG welded aluminium but we've just not heard from them. It's the same as everything else, when there is a problem or something doesn't go according to plan then everybody hears about it..
Beat me to my last post
Good to hear though Hugh. I'd be using a similar set up but with a Binzel mb 15. Definitely got to be a teflon liner of course so that's really the only thing I'd have to swap out. Although, thinking about it I could set up my spare torch and keep it dedicated for ally work.
Jim Davey
R H Davey Welding Supplies Ltd
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Don't run plastic liners right up to the tip if your torch is air cooled (they melt) make sure you get a liner of the type where the last 6-8" is brass.
My opinion is that £400 spool guns are utter s**t so £50 ones will be about as much use as Anne Frank's drum kit.
My opinion is that £400 spool guns are utter s**t so £50 ones will be about as much use as Anne Frank's drum kit.
Rrunnach
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I've done loads mig al/al welding over the years, mostly with good guns, never had any problems. One I have access to at work, it is a bit of a strange beast, instructions are lost, but it does work very well, in fact, I'm impressed with quality welds produced.
I also have all the proper gear to set up my Lincolns for al/al, using plant standard whip. Secret to problem free welds are to have all weld parameters correct, especially wire roll pressure and, if one does get a burn back at tip, stop, do not continue pressing gun trigger, it will birds nest. Far easier to pfaff with tip, than run fresh wire from spool, all the way up to business end, which will be at least 1.5 metre.
I also have all the proper gear to set up my Lincolns for al/al, using plant standard whip. Secret to problem free welds are to have all weld parameters correct, especially wire roll pressure and, if one does get a burn back at tip, stop, do not continue pressing gun trigger, it will birds nest. Far easier to pfaff with tip, than run fresh wire from spool, all the way up to business end, which will be at least 1.5 metre.
Rrunnach
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Yikes, the 600 quid one, is the one I have at work, I'll need to hide it, in case it get nicked!!!
I would give a swerve to under 65 quid one, the small socket would put me off, what does it do, can your plant accommodate this socket?
I'd take a punt with the 80 quid one, in a way, it is similar to my 600 quid one. But you need to ask about lack of euro socket on this one.
My thoughts only, the decision is solely, yours.
I would give a swerve to under 65 quid one, the small socket would put me off, what does it do, can your plant accommodate this socket?
I'd take a punt with the 80 quid one, in a way, it is similar to my 600 quid one. But you need to ask about lack of euro socket on this one.
My thoughts only, the decision is solely, yours.
Rrunnach
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It were me enquiring about the various spool guns. I think I'm looking at shelving the idea and just giving a standard set up a go (Binzel 15 with a teflon liner and that brass front section, U shaped groove wire feed roller). Somebody did mention the fact that the spool guns have the weight of a small hobby roll of wire to contend with which I should have taken into account.. rather stupid of me 
Anyway, I have to factor in the fact that I have pretty bad arthritis all over but certainly in my hands and fingers. For this reason I favour the smaller Binzel as I find it easier to hold. I've been using Lincoln's own torch on their machines at college and they are an equivalent to a 25 size and just a bit unwieldy for me. After about an hour of welding I do struggle with them.
Thank you all for the advice and opinions
Anyway, I have to factor in the fact that I have pretty bad arthritis all over but certainly in my hands and fingers. For this reason I favour the smaller Binzel as I find it easier to hold. I've been using Lincoln's own torch on their machines at college and they are an equivalent to a 25 size and just a bit unwieldy for me. After about an hour of welding I do struggle with them.Thank you all for the advice and opinions
HughF
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You might find it a benefit to flip the handle upside down, so the button is on the top, might be easier to operate. Also, some torches have a very long trigger pull (the parweld pro-grip range) and that can make them hard to use with thick gloves on. Genuine binzel and starparts both have short trigger pulls and imho are far superior to the parweld pro-grip.
Rrunnach
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It were me enquiring about the various spool guns. I think I'm looking at shelving the idea and just giving a standard set up a go (Binzel 15 with a teflon liner and that brass front section, U shaped groove wire feed roller). Somebody did mention the fact that the spool guns have the weight of a small hobby roll of wire to contend with which I should have taken into account.. rather stupid of me
Thank you all for the advice and opinions
If you're using a 1mm wire, fit a 1.2 tip.
Not tried the Parweld torch... I have 2 genuine Binzel 15 torches/handsets here at home which is what I normally use (I'm retired due to ill health). The other torch I have been using was a Lincoln (or is it Lincon?) of a similar size to a Binzel 25 and I personally found it a bit unweildy and I have quite large hands. I found a similar long trigger pull to the Parweld that you mention. So much so that I often found my feed stopping half or three quarters of the way through a weld run. No matter as this was the college equipment, not my own and so it's now done with
If I do go on another course it will be a TiG beginners one.I have heard this mentioned before when doing aluminium with a MiG. I think it is due to the aluminium wire slowly expanding as you weld (heat) and thus allowing the possibility of the wire jamming in the tip.
Thank you Rrunnach for remind me (us) of this, it is a very useful tip (no pun intended).
