MIG welding aluminum
#1
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
MIG welding aluminum
I thought I would ask on here, because alot of you guys seem to be very knowlegable about fabrication. I know when welding aluminum TIG welding is the best, but I wanted to try some MIG welding aluminum. What I mainly want to do is cut my intake plenum open and reweld it, maybe some intercooler piping and miscellanous brackets and things. Here is what I found from reading:
-Use 100% Argon
-Only aluminum thicker than .074"
-Only certain aluminums are weldable
-Avoid large weave beads on aluminum, do multiple passes
-Increase travel speed because the base metal is heated during weld
-Some say you need double feed/or feed in gun to make it work
Right now I just have my basic HF welder, and thought I would give MIG'ing aluminum a try. I know they won't look as good, but be as strong. Any advice or experience would be helpful.
-Use 100% Argon
-Only aluminum thicker than .074"
-Only certain aluminums are weldable
-Avoid large weave beads on aluminum, do multiple passes
-Increase travel speed because the base metal is heated during weld
-Some say you need double feed/or feed in gun to make it work
Right now I just have my basic HF welder, and thought I would give MIG'ing aluminum a try. I know they won't look as good, but be as strong. Any advice or experience would be helpful.
#2
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Ambler/Philly, PA, usa
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: MIG welding aluminum
I understand what you want to do but you are not going to be able to accomplish what you are imagining with that welder. Watch some youtube videos of mig welding aluminum. Air tight starts and stops are tricky, it creates a lot of soot, I don't think it would be suitable for anything less than 1/4 inch and you really need at a least a 200 amp mig. Teflon liner is also a must, and to do anything serious a spool gun or push pull setup to keep the soft wire from kinking. You would be better off saving up a grand for a half decent china tig that can do AC.
#3
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
Re: MIG welding aluminum
I understand what you want to do but you are not going to be able to accomplish what you are imagining with that welder. Watch some youtube videos of mig welding aluminum. Air tight starts and stops are tricky, it creates a lot of soot, I don't think it would be suitable for anything less than 1/4 inch and you really need at a least a 200 amp mig. Teflon liner is also a must, and to do anything serious a spool gun or push pull setup to keep the soft wire from kinking. You would be better off saving up a grand for a half decent china tig that can do AC.
#4
Re: MIG welding aluminum
He https://honda-tech.com/forums/welding-fabrication-53/havent-posted-while-finished-my-personal-car-2935359/
is using one if these $800 tig, it says "make an offer" too
http://www.everlastgenerators.com/Po...o-3910-pd.html
is using one if these $800 tig, it says "make an offer" too
http://www.everlastgenerators.com/Po...o-3910-pd.html
#6
Honda-Tech Member
Re: MIG welding aluminum
I'll post up a pic of my welder at work.
I use it to do aluminum quarter panels (Mercedes, Audi, BMW)
And also aluminum frames.
It's more difficult with a mig gun ( not spool )
I use it to do aluminum quarter panels (Mercedes, Audi, BMW)
And also aluminum frames.
It's more difficult with a mig gun ( not spool )
#7
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Wisco
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: MIG welding aluminum
Save up for a tig if you want to weld aluminum in the future. Pay someone to do this for you, trying it without a push/pull is just gonna be a headache.
Trending Topics
#8
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
Re: MIG welding aluminum
Okay, so I guess I will just save up for a TIG. What is a good price to weld a plenum back together? I really don't know what a good price on welding is.
#10
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Wisco
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: MIG welding aluminum
exactly! I do simple stuff like that all the time for beer or 20 bucks. Im not supporting myself solely off fabrication so simple jobs I don't charge much for. Im sure you could find someone local to do it up!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
TurBoXBirD16
Forced Induction
6
07-31-2002 08:50 AM