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Re: Spool Guns

To: Bob Spidell <bspidell@comcast.net>,
Subject: Re: Spool Guns
From: "Chas. Schlismann" <racegt6@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 08:15:32 -0800 (PST)
Bob Spidell <bspidell@comcast.net> wrote:
  
Pardon my ignorance, but what does a spool gun buy you over a regular MIG?
========================================================

Aluminum wire is soft and will kink in the cablehose conduit.  When it kinks, 
it will jam.  Best case, you lose your feed. Typically, though, the wire will 
jam between the feed rolls and the machine end of the cablehose.  The resulting 
tangle of wire looks like... a birds nest.  This is why teflon liners are sold 
for regular mig set-ups, the thought is that the aluminum is less likely to 
bend inside.  This is also why feed roll pressure should allow the wheels to 
slip a bit.  The teflon liner set up is a a wet band aid.  The ineffective 
liner needs to be removed (or a second cablehose be available) when going back 
to steel wire.
   
  Short answer:  Spool guns have a very short wire path and drive at the gun.  
No jam bird nests!
  Charlie




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