need a spool gun

[toplessHO]

I have 2 different machines I want to use this on
Smaller one is a MetalMan 140 which looks very close to a HF Titanium .
Larger machine is a Lincoln 180c.
Ive already swapped out the electrical plug on the Lincoln to the same plug as the Metal Man
and have confirmed the torch connection is same.
So I can get a Lincoln 100Pro spool gun and change the electrical plug to the same as the Metal Man
or possibly buy a HF Titanium spool gun which should already have correct 5 pin electrical plug,
but Im unsure if the torch connector is same as a Lincoln.
Anyone been down this road?

 

[toplessHO]

Anyone have either of these?

 

[mv213]

You may be on your own on this one. Seems like it should work but there is only one way to find out! Good luck.

 

[Jswain]

Curious why you want to be able to use it on the 140 as well, portable work?

A lot of welders (ie: not miller,Lincoln,Hobart) just change to Teflon liner & u groove drive rolls to weld aluminum.

So you may buy the 180 spool gun and perhaps you could just swap liners/rolls on the 140 if you really need to have both and the guns won't swap easily.

 

[toplessHO]

I tried the stiffer wire and a new liner on the 140.
Im moving towards a spool gun vs trying to push soft wire thru a 10 ft hose.
Yes portability is main reason to use the 140

The 180c is at least 2x as heavy and is 230v

edit 180c is 80# and 140 is 25#

 

[MoonRise]

"stiffer wire" as in using 5356 wire instead of 4043 wire?

Be aware that some/many/most 'small' MIG machines do NOT have the correct volt-amp relationship to properly weld with 5356 aluminum wire and are only made to weld with 4043 aluminum wire (when welding aluminum that is ).

The Lincoln PowerMIG 180C is one of those machines.

POWER MIG® 180C MIG Welder

POWER MIG® 180C MIG welder is portable for wire welding on thicker material for autobody, farming, and repair. The Power MIG 180C MIG Welder (K2473-2) is being fully replaced by the Power MIG 211i (K6080-1). Limited supply available. Please check with local retailer or distributor for availability.

www.lincolnelectric.com

https://ch-delivery.lincolnelectric.com/api/public/content/b53627f5a13c466dabe087b1cc92a6b1?v=8b3f26ac

and notice the capability chart/graph and the aluminum area where it calls out using .035 4043 aluminum wire ONLY. Single pass also.

Aluminum takes power (and amps) to weld, as it is so thermally conductive that you need to weld it hot-and-fast.

The 180C is made to use the Lincoln SG100 spool gun to weld aluminum. Use that if you are welding aluminum IMNSHO.

And don't use C25 gas when welding aluminum. 100% argon gas in case you weren't aware. And don't use the pure argon to weld steel, the arc characteristics aren't 'right' and you can get a weld that 'looks' ok but isn't all that good in the fusion aspect.

 

[Jswain]

So can you swap the mig guns from one to the other with no issues?

 

[toplessHO]

yes sir I can swap guns between machines
Only the electrical connector was different
and Ive now changed the connector on the 180c
to the same as the 140,which I find to be an upgrade.

 

[Jswain]

yes sir I can swap guns between machines
Only the electrical connector was different
and Ive now changed the connector on the 180c
to the same as the 140,which I find to be an upgrade.

My advice would be to not change anything on the 180c(obviously too late now, but) and use the proper spool gun for the 180c. Why?

It would **** to brick the 180c over using the cheap spool gun if they aren't compatible. That's the chance you'll risk. I'd rather brick the 140 or the spool gun itself.(Which would both still ****)

I've heard of guys bricking miller 250 series welders trying to use spool guns off other welders.

Other option is sell what you got and buy one unit that makes more sense for what you want.

 

[toplessHO]

thanks
Ive never heard of "bricking" a good machine with a cheaper gun and will consider that.
As for the 180c being modified,I didnt have much choice,both the male and female portion
of the electrical plug was damaged.I like the ease of connecting and disconnecting the 5 pin
push pull connector that the 140 uses.

 

[mike93lx]

I wouldn't have guessed a 140 would have the power to do much with aluminun

 

[Jswain]

I wouldn't have guessed a 140 would have the power to do much with aluminun

I definitely don't think it would either which is another reason why I wouldn't compromise the 180c in favor of it. My guess is cold starts will be a killer