Welding Tips and Tricks

I have a Hobart Beta Mig 170 machine (late 80's vintage). The machine is aluminum capable and at one time there was an option to use a rubber drive roller and teflon liner in the OEM gun. I would like to use a spool gun to run some aluminum. I know it's possible to use a control box SGA100 and a Spoolmate 3035 gun, however this is a pricy option for an older machine.

Anybody done a conversion for maybe a Spoolmate 100 or another lower cost gun? Ideas?

Chris

I have put a spool gun on a Harbor freight italian made mig welder. It went like this, opened up the welder found the wires going to the mig wire feed motor, trigger and potentiometer used for wire speed. You need switch between these items.
many wire feed motors are ~24v . you will need a switch with multi poles 2 throws or multiple switches either way it is just switching control to the spool gun. I also made a gas port / power terminal . I found a schematic for a hobart beta mig -1800 it may be similar and uses a 24v motor