I bought a Lincoln SP135T a while back because it said right on the box that you could weld Aluminum with it.....it didn't mention the fact that it wouldn't handle much more than 2 pieces of aluminum foil. I'd like to weld thin material, no thicker than 1/8 aluminum. The Mig just doesn't cut it. In order for me to get enough heat for the weld to work, I have to crank both ***** to MAX which generally results in the wire melting right up inside the gun and welding the tip shut. After 3 packs of tips and trying countless different settings and techniques, I have given up. What are my options for what I'd like to do. I see the cheapass inverter Tig at Harbor Freight...will this get the job done? If nobody has tried it out yet, I might give it a shot. I've also heard that it is possible to Oxy/Acet weld aluminum....is this a bunch of crap or is it posible, and does anyone have any tutorials on this process. I've already got the mig, an old 220 buzz box, and a gas setup. At this point in my life, I simply can't justify paying $1500 + for a top notch TIG machine that I'll use once or twice a year. My limit is about $500 for right now. All help is appreciated.

 

if you only need it a couple times a year, why not just get someone else to do it for you?

 

because having someone else do it......... thats like admitting defeat. I've never, in my life, subbed out anything but upholstery work. I refuse to do it now. I've done a bit of research since I posted this, which I probably should have done before I made this post. My research has indicated that I need a Tig unit capable of AC to weld aluminum.....most of the punk Tigs are DC only....which means they will weld only ferrous metals. I thought that was what Migs were for Regardless, it looks like I'm in the market for a high dollar tig......who knows, maybe I'll get good at it and sell a bunch of parts...that I spent way to much time making

 

yeah i need a freaking aluminum wing welded a piece cracked off it

 

yes, you will need atleast a lincoln prescision 185 or a miller 180sd which is what i have. here are a couple pics of some stuff i did a while back with it.

 

the promig 175 will do alum as well....if you buy the kit. the 135 just won't cut it on a lincoln.

we're gonna pick up a spool gun/controller for my friends miller 135 and see if that will do it though

 

if you want to mig aluminum, then you need to heat up the parts that you want to weld.

use a torch to heat them up and then mig weld it.

otherwize you need a TIG to weld it.

 

i've not heard that? I was just told to drag 10-15 and don't push

 

if drag on aluminum your going to get a big mess

 

so it's backwards.....you push and not drag, right? 10-15....?

and has anyone ever tried a spool gun setup on the 135?

 

My problem doing aluminum on the Mig was simply the fact that within a second or two after establishing an arc, the tip would weld itself shut. I tried holding the gun farther away from my work, I tried playing with the heat and wire feed, tried drilling out the tips to .040...all with the same result. The 135 may have enough juice to make a weld in thin aluminum, I just can't figure out how to do it. I've got the Teflon gun liner kit and everything, and its such a pain in the *** that I'm over it. I want a mig....unless someone will share with me the trick to welding AL with a mig without welding the tip shut.

 

I'm no pro at welding, but with aluminum, you have to use more wire speed than you would with steel.

 

as mentioned earlier, it is even a good idea to pre-heat your aluminum when you are doing tig. throw your pieces in the oven for a little while to warm them up.

 

I'm really new at this.

I have a lincoln 135 MIG and am looking to get into some TIG stuff. Learn as I go.

That weld looks great with that 180SD. by the way.

I have a guy locally willing to sell one for 1300 but it's used. Any idea how much one should go for used?

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by the seller &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Miller Syncrowave 180 SD
Bought new in 2003 used maybe five times.
Always used and kept inside.
Great condition. </TD></TR></TABLE>

And what would I look for in order to manifolds, intercooler piping and the such?

 

just recently finished welding and fabrication as part of my auto course an while we were in there the tutor showed us some fusion welded alu. and man does it look SWEEEEEET . cos you know how with mig/tig you get that bumpyness with this its smooth as, and from what i saw pretty strong too you would have to use a non ferrous filler rod and im also not sure what flame you would use best research that one but i am telling you skeptics IT IS POSSIBLE ive seen it