Welding Tips and Tricks

I am looking to get a higher duty spool gun than my Magnum 100SG which is only 130 amp. I have a Lincoln Mig PAK 180. What options are my options for 200 amp or higher spool gun?

I don’t want to upgrade my welder as it has enough power to weld 3/16 aluminum.


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silaswatt wrote:I am looking to get a higher duty spool gun than my Magnum 100SG which is only 130 amp. I have a Lincoln Mig PAK 180. What options are my options for 200 amp or higher spool gun?

I don’t want to upgrade my welder as it has enough power to weld 3/16 aluminum.


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I have searched pretty extensively. I don't know if USA Weld/HTP makes a spool gun that would work on your Mig Pak 180, but if they do it's going to cost more than the whole Mig Pak 180 that you bought. Outside of the possibility of USA weld I don't see any other options.

The duty cycle for your machine is actually only 30% at 130 amps, the duty cycle for your spool gun is actually identical to your machine. I wouldn't worry about it, or rather if I did I'd worry about constantly overheating your machine more.

sbaker56 wrote:The duty cycle for your machine is actually only 30% at 130 amps, the duty cycle for your spool gun is actually identical to your machine. I wouldn't worry about it, or rather if I did I'd worry about constantly overheating your machine more.

I agree.

Silaswatt, why do you want a spoolgun with a higher duty cycle? I feel like there is more to it than what you're disclosing.

Oscar wrote:

sbaker56 wrote:The duty cycle for your machine is actually only 30% at 130 amps, the duty cycle for your spool gun is actually identical to your machine. I wouldn't worry about it, or rather if I did I'd worry about constantly overheating your machine more.

I agree.

Silaswatt, why do you want a spoolgun with a higher duty cycle? I feel like there is more to it than what you're disclosing.

I’
m really happy with the quality of the weld but I’m suspecting I need higher duty gun. It welds really good for about 10 inches with the recommended settings and argon flow.

After that point, the gun starts struggling and the wire starts burning back to the tip. It’s really frustrating not being able to weld more than 15 seconds. I’m welding 3/16 sheet to 1/4.


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You are not exceeding the duty cycle of that gun in a mere 15 seconds. I feel you are mis-diagnosing the problem. The problem is likely the machine or settings.