Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

Hey guys. I have a Lincoln Sp 135 and i'm wondering how well it'll do for welding aluminum. I mean, they sell the stuff for it, but i also know MIGs arent that great for aluminum. So before i spend the cash for the extra stuff, does anyone have pics of the resulting welds? I'm planning on making boxes.. IC pipes... nothing thick. I know Ghetto D used to mig intercooler stuff with it... Thanks in advance.



Also what exactly do i need to buy to get started?

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

Wont work, you need a gun with a spool on it or a push/ pull gun. Otherwise it will just bind and continue to feed out right after the drive rollers making a rants nest. I tried it with my SP-135 Plus. you need a lincoln power MIG with a Cobra gun with the drive rollers by the goose neck.

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

My mate had a go at it, said it was a real pain getting the wire speed right because the aluminium wire would always fold up and stop feeding properly. He never had much success from what i remember, but people have told me that it does work.

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

werd, done it, but you need a spool gun and argon. Its tough, but with practice the welds can look as good as a TIG. Strength, idk, but we used a MIG to build aluminum space frame chassis that held up fine for a couple years.


[edit] getting the wire speed and amperage spot on is tough as ----. The spool gun I was using had a rate adjuster built in, which I would consider a requirement. Preheating the aluminum with a torch helped get the amperage requirement consistant.

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

Its not that hard to dial your voltage and wire speed. normaly 1 volt per 10 amps. I found around 20-25V using .035 wire downhand works best.

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

We were having trouble with it mostly on the thinner stuff (and the chassis' was primarily .030 wall 1" diameter tube and .030 sheet). What was happening is if you set it right when the metal was cold, after a few seconds of welding the arc was too hot, so you had to move faster, then the wire speed would be too slow.

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

with thin "tin" aluminium you use pulse on pulse mode of transfer. Really thats not much of a frame. I still use it on 1/8 - 1/4" and .035 wire

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

all this talk sounds very unerving. not so excited about this anymore, guess i go find a smiley tig?

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

if you want to only want weld steel

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

oh wtf, i thought they made smileys with the AC option? mb i got confused with some other welder. but yea, i want something with good aluminum welding capability... i have very easy access to aluminum and steel isnt great for everything.

THanks for the replies btw. Helped a lot!

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

Ok so I did a little research for you. Called up Lincoln. They have an opional part (part number K664-2) That works with the SP model mig machines. It cost about $57. I looked and found the link. http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Cat...eet.asp?p=2127 I hope this works for you. If you get it let me know. I will end up buying one probably.

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

o ---- i think that's what they were talkin about when i bought my machine. Is that all i need? and a bottle of argon? if it is. 60 bucks doesnt sound TOO bad, just as long as its not totally useless. thanks wheeze

[ADD] Well i was lookin around and i found this http://www.lincolnelectric.com/knowl...compactmig.asp hope it helps.

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

i was thinkin of buyin that kit. I started lookin for aluminum mandrel bends for IC pipes but it seems that none of the HMT sponsors have much of a selection. where do you guys go for 2.5'' aluminum mandrel bends??

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

I have that kit for my lincoln and it still sucks. You will still spend more time fixed balled up wire than welding. If you do try it, keep the line form the gun to the box as straight as possible. Any bend will quickly result in a wire mess after the feed roller.
I would save your money and just use steel, because you will probably end up doing it in steel in the end anyways.

Later
Randy

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

LOL ok

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

Thank you. I'll stick to the TIG then.

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

Attachment 30340

Attachment 30341

a local shop used to sell aluminum mounts that were mig welded. nobody goes there anymore.

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

MIG welding aluminum can create a good weld, but they have no penetration on those welds. They could have TIG'd that, and it still would have broken if thats all the more penetration it got.

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

Not true, 76' Aluminium boat holds 120 ton and its all miged hasnt failed us in 5 years and the PO for 15 years. ;)

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

I think he meant the picture of the broken welds on the motor mounts.
Because pretty much aluminum weld you see is from a mig. I would hate to have to tig up a big diesel trailer are anthing in production...it would take forever and cost a fortune.

Later
Randy

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

dude that shop sucks ass they cant even weld aluminum...im 17 and i can weld better then thoes guys
theres my proof
Attachment 29905

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

ki8nda small pic man, we cant see anything. and what machine did you use?

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

I took a night course in mig welding aluminum and good results are very achievable if you have a spool gun.There are some knock off spool guns of the miller one dont know if those are compatible with a Lincon.I found it was very sensitive to changes in wire speed and heat alot more then one using mild steel.IE it would go from decent looking weld to garbage with very small tweaks to setttings.With some practice you can do great welds.I was also welding thin alum. as it was a course intended for autobody repair men that is signed up for anyways.

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

ya sorry for the small pic i will try to get a bigger one if you want and i used a Millermatic 251 machine

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

Lincoln FTW

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

I've done some alu with a millermatic 350p and a python xr push-pull gun. Works out well. We were welding 1/2" plate with it in a single pass. I would HIGHLY recommend taking a class for aluminum gmaw if you haven't, its very beneficial to get someone who knows what they are doing to show you before you waste time and money trying to reinvent the wheel.

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

Pythons is what we have on the large powermig

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

is it that technical? cant you just play with the settings, there are only so many knobs.

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

You might be surprised.

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

I used to work a high end trailer manufacturer that migged everything.

I have done a few jobs MIG Alum, and IMO it is to much of a pain in the ass to dial in on anything worth while anything automotive. Plus it make HORRIBLE fumes and gases that no one should ever breath in.

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

Well take a look at this and it will explain some stuff to you about aluminium welding. All welds have grain cracks. http://files.aws.org/wj/2006/12/wj200612/wj1206-14.pdf

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

Nice information. To sum up that article, USE ADEQUATE FILLER.

Fusion welds are a no-no.


Also, a spool gun is not needed at all. I tried aluminum welding last week on a HARBOR FREIGHT MIG with 0.030" wire. It worked fine. Not once did the wire birdnest, even before I realize that you mad wire speed and I would get burn-back. Even stuck at the tip, it would not birdnest.

However, the HF migs have a really shitty drive motor which feeds wire inconsistent, unlike Miller or Lincoln. They feed 10x more accurate.

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

Bingo.

Aluminum Wedling quite often is backwards. Burning through sometimes mean less wire, Build up sometimes mean more. It takes alot longer to dial it in then steel/SS

Re: Anyone here MIG Aluminum?
 

Just use aluminum stick. Get yourself a cheap SMAW welding machine and stick it. The welds are very nice looking, its easy to use and the welds hold up great. The only thing is if you want to weld vertical, you will have to weld up the joint. But just weld in the horizontal position. I'm pretty sure you need to weld with AC though to be able to break through the oxide layer on the surface of the aluminum. Also make sure that your use a stainless wire brush on the joint before you weld it. It just makes it easier to start welding and makes for a better finished product.