[TheForge] Welders

[Larry and Pat Brown]

The spool gun is usually used to weld aluminum. The distance from the small 
spool of wire to the tip is around 6" so the wire doesn't bunch up in the 
liner. I would go with one of the 220 heavier mig / flux cored machines. 
Size wise I would go with how portable you need it, I have been using the 
first Hobart Handler they made for a long time (Black case, no quick change 
gun). This machine is about #60, but carry it around and up stairs for a 
while and is grows rapidly. Stick with a name brand, if you need parts you 
can get them.
Larry Brown

At 05:00 AM 1/8/2002 -0500, you wrote:
>Thanks for the input guys, all good stuff
>
>    allow me to narrow the field a little... I really want to get a 220
>v welder, I have 220 and know how to "get" 220 almost anywhere...I can
>safely tap 220 from any house that has it, I wouldn't leave the tap on
>for someone else to use, but it's safe and up to "code" for it's
>purpose.  I would like to have gas....
>
>    So... 220v, gas equipped...   and if I'm understanding the "spool
>gun", that sounds interesting, would that mean, just change the "gun"
>on the end and adjust heat and feed to change metals?
>
>    anyway... I'm willing to spend a little, but still don't need a rig
>that will do "professional" duty...
>
>    Am I still looking at the Lincoln/Hobart/Miller/"homeprofessional",
>kind of  lines?... a friend once had one named "solar", anyone heard
>of that?  I think it was a "body shop circuit" welder salesman
>purchase originally.  What would be the obvious things to look for in
>a used welder as far as problems or potential problems.
>
>    Thanks for all of your help, as I said, I've done enough
>fabrication to know how to do this, but it was a "he set the torch, I
>used it" deal ... I never had to identify metals and set the welder...
>Yeah..made me lazy, wish I'd paid more attention...
>
>    Jeff   ><>
>
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