@@recklesslyfestyle with my own I remove the feed roller first. Snip the balled end off the wire and wind the spool backwards. Lol maybe there’s something wrong with mine? Enjoying your vids brother!! Keep them coming. Thank you for your response!!
I have same welder. I always put the wire back on the spool no problem. Just snip the tip at gun and flip up the roller tensioner and wind the spool backwards.
@@recklesslyfestyle Often a little ball is left at the very tip and prevents the wire from being pulled back. I cut the little ball off with cutters, and then stone off any sharp burrs on the tip. Then I've always been able to pull the wire back and use it again.
The piece that holds your wire roll on the hub needs to be released then you can manually turn the wire roll backwards after you cut the tip off at the gun end
Really should learn to play with wire feed speed. Lots of variables in the weld can be fixed with slight speed changes. Temp, thickness, up vs down… (Here’s a tip to learn your machines feed as some don't list actual FPM: choose a setting, start a stopwatch when you pull the trigger, let go of trigger at 6 seconds. Measure the length and X 10 gets you the FPM. 12” in 6 sec = 120 IPM. 20” in 6 sec = 20 IPM. Mark the corresponding settings, I paint penned it right on my Lincoln 180 Dual. Helps us be able to use process recommendations that are listed in volts and wire feed. I have found charts showing what Lincoln settings are in ~ volts.)
Yeah, I did adjust it a lot. I need to play with the spool gun more. This was my first time using it and I didn’t edit anything out. It was my real, first experience. I’ve already done better with it. I’ve had and used my welder for years but aluminum is completely different.
@@recklesslyfestyle I’ll do that. I find it crazy that you can weld aluminum tubing with your but I can’t. I know that mig puts out more heat than tig but you know
Yeah, that’s strange. I messed around with songs on a scrap piece for a few hours before I tried on something that mattered. I blew through a couple times. I’d love to learn TIG though.
@@recklesslyfestyle That’s what I’m honestly leaning towards for thin aluminum. I won’t reallly do much tig but maybe I’d like to do some cold side work and such
Every machine and person uses different settings. Make sure you reversed polarity and keep practicing. It takes time. Aluminum is very different from steel.
If the weld itself looks decent I suggest a wire wheel. If it is rough looking and or want to grind it use a flap disk for aluminum or a grinding disk for aluminum
What should I do if my welds are covered in black and white soot? It got cold and dark here so I shut everything down before I could continue to play with it more
instead of cutting the wire at the rollers, cut it at the tip and release the tension and unbolt the spool and you can spool the wire back up
I could unbolt it, I’ll have to give it a try.
@@recklesslyfestyle you dont have to completely unbolt it, just enough to release the tension on the spool
I’ve done that, something on my machine binds up. I will try removing the spool next time and see if that’s what binds.
EXACTLY LMAO
I was about to say the same thing. I do it all the time and waste no wire
Why not cut the wire you are removing at the tip and then wind the spool backwards putting the wire back on the spool rather than wasting it?
It may be something “wrong” with my machine, but it won’t pull back through. I’d love to do that, it just won’t do it.
@@recklesslyfestyle with my own I remove the feed roller first. Snip the balled end off the wire and wind the spool backwards. Lol maybe there’s something wrong with mine? Enjoying your vids brother!! Keep them coming. Thank you for your response!!
I have same welder. I always put the wire back on the spool no problem. Just snip the tip at gun and flip up the roller tensioner and wind the spool backwards.
@@recklesslyfestyle Often a little ball is left at the very tip and prevents the wire from being pulled back. I cut the little ball off with cutters, and then stone off any sharp burrs on the tip. Then I've always been able to pull the wire back and use it again.
The piece that holds your wire roll on the hub needs to be released then you can manually turn the wire roll backwards after you cut the tip off at the gun end
You had a quick text on switching polarity, how is this done on the welder?
Open the side cover where your spool goes and switch the positive and negative cables for your gun.
triple fold the trash wire, twist it together with a drill, you have filler wire for tig?
That’s a great idea. I don’t have a tig yet but I will at some point.
You don't need that conical spring if you're using the softer 4043. The spring acts like a brake for the harder 5356.
Good to know, thank you.
the kit comes with a switch in that plastic bag. fit it and it changes polarity as you need it.
Really should learn to play with wire feed speed. Lots of variables in the weld can be fixed with slight speed changes. Temp, thickness, up vs down…
(Here’s a tip to learn your machines feed as some don't list actual FPM: choose a setting, start a stopwatch when you pull the trigger, let go of trigger at 6 seconds. Measure the length and X 10 gets you the FPM. 12” in 6 sec = 120 IPM. 20” in 6 sec = 20 IPM. Mark the corresponding settings, I paint penned it right on my Lincoln 180 Dual. Helps us be able to use process recommendations that are listed in volts and wire feed. I have found charts showing what Lincoln settings are in ~ volts.)
Yeah, I did adjust it a lot. I need to play with the spool gun more. This was my first time using it and I didn’t edit anything out. It was my real, first experience. I’ve already done better with it. I’ve had and used my welder for years but aluminum is completely different.
I’m considering trying a harbor freight spool gun. My sg is either all or nothing, and burns holes in the piping on the lowest setting
That’s too bad, mine works well I think. I need more practice with it.
I’ve been really happy with my Harbor Freight purchases. I say, give it a try.
@@recklesslyfestyle I’ll do that. I find it crazy that you can weld aluminum tubing with your but I can’t. I know that mig puts out more heat than tig but you know
Yeah, that’s strange. I messed around with songs on a scrap piece for a few hours before I tried on something that mattered. I blew through a couple times. I’d love to learn TIG though.
@@recklesslyfestyle That’s what I’m honestly leaning towards for thin aluminum. I won’t reallly do much tig but maybe I’d like to do some cold side work and such
Definitely. I want to fab more and more of my own stuff. So I kind of “have to”.
Can you show me what is the setting on your Lincoln 180 machine. I have try 3 days and still could not get it right
Every machine and person uses different settings. Make sure you reversed polarity and keep practicing. It takes time. Aluminum is very different from steel.
is it a must to use gas or can you use a different kind of wire and no gas?
I’m just a hobbyist, but as far as I’m aware you have to use 100% argon. You have to shield the aluminum weld from oxygen.
Can this spool gun be modified to be used on a Lincoln 210MP or a 215MPi?
That’s a good question. I don’t know, I’m just learning as I go.
do you ground your cable to your aluminum piece before you weld or table metal
I just ground to the piece. If I had a nice welding table I’d ground the table.
what do you use to grind aluminum welds? what type of disc?
Just a flap disc, but it has to be one that you only use for aluminum. You can’t grind steel with it and then use it on aluminum again.
If the weld itself looks decent I suggest a wire wheel. If it is rough looking and or want to grind it use a flap disk for aluminum or a grinding disk for aluminum
The red disks and grinding wheels are for aluminum and stainless
What should I do if my welds are covered in black and white soot? It got cold and dark here so I shut everything down before I could continue to play with it more
You need to push instead of pull. The black and white is contamination. Pushing will keep the weld shielded with argon.
Can this be done with a lincoln Mig T-170
As long as you have the provisions to run gas, I think so.
I wonder if something is wrong with my gun, it won’t even try to weld. And I turn it up it’ll arc for 4 seconds and turn off
Did you switch polarity on the leads? It has to be DC- for the spool gun to arc like it should.
change your polarity and use bigger tip ex:use 0.30 wire with 0.35 tip
I did, got it dialed in decently after some trial and error. Thank you.