Hello to all, from Wickenburg, Az Iron Art by Lee

I'm new to Everlast welders have always run and had Miller equipment. I retired from BOC gases which is now known as Linde Inc which is a world wide industrial gas company. I started welding as a kid in our shop on the ranch with a Forney buzz box stick gluing ranch and farm junk back together. Was in the trucking business as a owner/operator before going to BOC as a field service tech. We did tons of work with the electronics co's in northern Calif and all over the country all stainless tube supplying cryogenics to customers. Service truck had a Miller bobcat and I carried a Miller Maxstar tig with a water/cooler also a Miller suitcase mig setup to weld tank pads down. I retired in 09 and started doing art pieces with horse shoes, started with a Miller Multimatic 211, then up to a Multimatic 220 just sold it and purchased a Everlast Lightning MTS 275 along with two mig guns one 10ft for aluminum and a 15ft along with the 25ft tig torch setup. Haven't received the 275 yet, can't wait to run her through the paces. Around here I'm the local fab and weld most anything go to person along with the horse shoe pieces I make. Lots of aluminum horse trailers around here to stick back together.

Sounds good, having that kind of aluminum work handy for your potent new Everlast unit.

Go forth, and conquer!

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Originally Posted by christian

Sounds good, having that kind of aluminum work handy for your potent new Everlast unit.

Go forth, and conquer!

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The main reason I sold the Miller multimatic 220 was could not mig aluminum, only a spool gun which I could never stand to use. I mostly do horse shoe art pieces and fab and repair the neighbors issues and screw ups. Haven't received my 275 yet, gathered up all the needed items to get going once it decides to show up.

Gee,

I've never done aluminum MIG, but know that it calls for the right unit for whatever application.

I mean, the 275 literature seems to call for a spool gun when doing aluminum. And, I've always like how Everlast includes (as optional) a stout Parker spool gun (that adjusts on the gun, and costs a bit) in their product line.

But, of course, many MIG units can actually do aluminum MIG with a short whip, fitted with a teflon/nylon liner, and an with over-sized tip (as the aluminum wire tends to expand), I'm told.

Otherwise, I'd tend to want a unit that has at least single-Pulse for aluminum MIG (maybe the 275 does, I didn't look too close). I mean, I saw a gal on a video rocking an Everlast 251Si doing single-Pulse on aluminum, which was pretty impressive, and, if I recall correctly, she wasn't using it with a spool gun.

So, if you haven't consulted very closely with Everlast sales staff about which unit would be best for you, then I'd call them quickly, and consider which unit is best for your objectives, as they could willing to alter your order.

I mean, I'd definitely stick with a higher amperage of around 275A, for trailer stuff, just to provide more duty-cycle for long welds at 200 amps or more. The Lightening 275, is good for that, at 60% duty-cycle at 250A.

Otherwise, the 253DPi or 353DPi are both Pulse and double-Pulse capable on MIG, but no TIG ability, which could be problematic if you want a single unit for both processes (you mentioned that you sold the Miller 220, which does AC TIG, too, I believe).

The Lightening 275 may be just the ticket for you, IF Pulsed MIG on aluminum isn't really needed. I mean, Everlast used to sell a 275P unit, that one of the forum members here used quite effective to build aluminum skiff boats for Alaskans.

So, maybe Mark (from Everlast) will see this post and offer some input about pulsed-MIG for aluminum, and if it's really a critical feature for what you'll be doing.

Sorry if this makes things more confusing for you. But I'm confident that the Everlast units and support will get you where you want to be, and will save you money too!

Please let us all know how things progress, including some pics!

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Originally Posted by IronArt

The main reason I sold the Miller multimatic 220 was could not mig aluminum, only a spool gun which I could never stand to use. I mostly do horse shoe art pieces and fab and repair the neighbors issues and screw ups. Haven't received my 275 yet, gathered up all the needed items to get going once it decides to show up.

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Hey, thanks for all your ideas of units to get, I ordered and bought a Lightning MTS 275 with all the bells and whistles, two mig guns a 15ft series 24 and a 10ft series 36 and plastic liner. Also the 25ft Rota-Flex 17 tig torch and also the 12ft 9 tig torch, most of my tig work the Rota-Flex 9 handles with easy, mostly under 120 amps. If and when the welder shows up I will start running it through processes and find out what it can actually do. I've received all of the tig torches and mig guns along with consumables which I already have enough to open a supply store.
So we'll see how she does pretty quick here.
PS. If you ever try mig aluminum get Hobart 4943 wire, its much better than 4043 and not as prone to cracking as 5653 and it welds smooth once you get the settings dialed in which can take some time sometimes.

Yeah,

Those Lightning units are obviously a brilliant choice in today's welding market, especially since they include extra waveforms for AC TIG, which makes it an advanced TIG unit. I like Triangle wave for thinner stuff.

I've got some 4943 for TIG, but that's good to know about it for MIG too. I mean, 5356 is stiffer than 4043, so it has undoubtedly been the go-to wire for aluminum MIG for some time, but if the newer 4943 is even better, hey great!

Let us know if you need any help.