I am hoping to try this soon with my new welder. I already have the aluminum spool, but cant try cause im using a 75/25 mix for gas. I plan on buying a smaller bottle specifically for aluminum with 100% argon. Atleast from what I understand you cant weld it with the mixed gas.

I would like to see some pics of what the beads look like.

 

What machine are you using to try the aluminum with? Also how thick is the metal you want to weld?

John

 

i think he's talking about mig cause it says so in the title . mig'd aluminum works but you should really look into tig'n it.

 

I just purchased a Millermatic 175. Yes, its a MIG and I do wish i had a TIG.....in the future I'll get one.

 

it looks just like a piece of steel that was MIGed.

 

Well, I can imagine what it looks like. But I would like to see exactly.

 

Hey dan if you want to practice on some aluminum let me know. I been looking for someone to reweld some of the aluminum on my rollback.

 

mig aluminum looks like *** unless its on thick material. i'll do a sample for you. we have big miller machines with the $800 aluminum guns we use for industrial stuff.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by legendboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">mig aluminum looks like *** unless its on thick material. i'll do a sample for you. we have big miller machines with the $800 aluminum guns we use for industrial stuff. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Would also like to see a sample

 

I used one once when I was in school. It worked great on really thick stuff, like 1/2" or thicker. I could get it to lay a nice bead, and it was way quicker than TIG on that heavy stuff. I couldn't get it to work for **** on thin stuff. (same as mentioned above). I sure wouldn't want to try to build manifolds or similar parts with one.

-Chris

 

Thanks Corey. I would love to see some pics. If you could take some of thin and thick gauge material, just so I have an idea.

 

I'll be at my shop wednesday making some collectors for somebody, i'll squeze it in then.

 

Ok guys as promised. The guy who welded this stuff has been welding for us for 4 years. He migs aluminum all day long.









And a short clip, please right click & save as

http://www.telusplanet.net/pub...1.avi

 

damn...i guess thats what its supposed to look like, but that looks like **** compared to tig....or even mig steel.

 

wow that looks like *** compared to tig..no ofence

 

ya no ****, here is a pic of my aluminum tig

 

Wow. I actually thought that it wouls look a little better than that. It does look nasty.
I will still give a try at it though. Nothing for cosmetics unfortunately.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by legendboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ok guys as promised. The guy who welded this stuff has been welding for us for 4 years. He migs aluminum all day long.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

That looks like ****. I've Mig'd aluminum better than that. I'm starting another couple welding classes next week, I'll try to get my hands on a spool gun and gear to show you what it's supposed to look like.

 

Is it absotely neccesary to have a spool gun to MIG aluminum?

 

I found this just searching around the net. Looks way better than that ****. I've Mig'd aluminum and it ends up looking just like arc welded steel, smooth, uniform bead, with no black soot from shorting out the gun every two seconds.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 93LSivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Is it absotely neccesary to have a spool gun to MIG aluminum?</TD></TR></TABLE>

It's not absolutely neccesary but it helps keep the aluminum from kinking.

http://www.lincolnelectric.com...m.asp

 

Wow, great reading...very informative. Ive been all over the Lincoln site when I was researching my purchase of my MIG, I have no idea how I missed that page.

 

You guys say it looks like **** but your forgetting its like 16-18 gauge material. I can lay quite a nice looking weld, better than the one posted above on 1/4" thick material lol.

When you mig aluminum you don't exactly get a nice pool on anything thinner than 3/8" stock. And your not gonna be making your intercooler end tanks out of 1/4" plate.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 10-94-55 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
That looks like ****. I've Mig'd aluminum better than that. I'm starting another couple welding classes next week, I'll try to get my hands on a spool gun and gear to show you what it's supposed to look like.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That weld doesn't have to look 'pretty, it works.

When you are doing large production, the last thing you want is to spend time producing 'pretty' welds that are going to be hidden anyway
(see alum channel above) outer welds are ground before installation of the part.

I design parts for a welding company thats deals strickly with aluminum.
It doesn't have to look pretty, just as long as you get good penetration

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Quick 200k Mile Motor &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">[img]

It doesn't have to look pretty, just as long as you get good penetration
</TD></TR></TABLE>


oh dear. haha.

good thread