Fittings and threads on imported MIG welders

[lhnitz]

Hi! I bought a Harbor Freight 120A, 125/230 vold Mig welder a few weeks ago. I am still practising the welding that I forgot in the last 25 years or so, so have not done any heavy work. I want to work in aluminium and note that almost all texts advise using a Teflon liner or a spool gun. I have a stock of aluminium brazing wire that I wish to work with--it is both soft and quite fat, so might not work going through the regular feeder.

Two questions: Does anyone have a good source for Mig cable Teflon liners?

Does anyone have a lead on a spool gun that will work on a variety of imported Mig setups?

I do not know how to describe the connectors on the welder case, so I do not quite know how to chase down spool guns or connector/adapters in the electronics marketplaces.

Thanks!

[wmgeorge]

Hi! I bought a Harbor Freight 120A, 125/230 vold Mig welder a few weeks ago. I am still practising the welding that I forgot in the last 25 years or so, so have not done any heavy work. I want to work in aluminium and note that almost all texts advise using a Teflon liner or a spool gun. I have a stock of aluminium brazing wire that I wish to work with--it is both soft and quite fat, so might not work going through the regular feeder.

Two questions: Does anyone have a good source for Mig cable Teflon liners?

Does anyone have a lead on a spool gun that will work on a variety of imported Mig setups?

I do not know how to describe the connectors on the welder case, so I do not quite know how to chase down spool guns or connector/adapters in the electronics marketplaces.

Thanks!

Its my guess with those Chinese welders you will be lucky to find anything. A spool gun would be dreaming. My guess for maybe a few bucks more you could have purchased a name brand welder either new or used that you can get parts for...

I have used a Miller MIG setup in the past, without a spool gun to weld aluminum. Using Argon gas and cleaning the metal with a stainless steel brush and then acetone. IF you keep the mig gun cable straight, and are really careful you can do light weight aluminum.

[lhnitz]

I appreciate the feedback. I will try feeding the aluminium wire and see how that goes. Perhaps my next welder can be a more standard brand. I will surely know more about what I will need in a year or so.

[radkins]

Those cheapo welders usually have a plastic liner anyway so you would get very little friction reduction by switching to a Teflon liner. As has already been said keep that cable straight and also keep the wire CLEAN! A trick I use is to run the wire through a felt wiper (any welding supply should have these or you can improvise your own) just before it enters the rollers, the wiper is stopped by the feed guide and the wire will be pulled through it wiping it clean. Even a small soft rubber ball will work.

[moldmonkey]

A trick I use is to run the wire through a felt wiper (any welding supply should have these or you can improvise your own) just before it enters the rollers, the wiper is stopped by the feed guide and the wire will be pulled through it wiping it clean. Even a small soft rubber ball will work

I use one of THESE (http://www.staples.com/office/supplies/p4_Staples-Black-Metal-Binder-Clips_37653_Business_Supplies_0_10051_SC1:CG1036:D P101:CL10100) to hold a piece of rag on the wire likeRadkins suggests.

[macona]

We used to sell more nylon liners than teflon ones. Work just as well.

Many dont even bother and just use steel liners.