Welding aluminum with a mig welder?

Question

Welding aluminum with a mig welder?

Answer 1

Try using a TIG welder.  You'll get better results.  

Answer 2

You can also buy aluminum electrodes and weld it stick style.

Answer 3

Yea you can do it, but its a pain in the butt.You will need aluminum wire and 100% argon.

Answer 4

If you are asking what you need to do your best bet is to contact a local welding supply and see what they recommend for your specific application...every application is different and i don't do enough aluminum welding to give you accurate advice...Good Luck

Answer 5

So what's your question?

Answer 6

100% argon gas and a spool gun works best since aluminum wire is too soft to pass through the entire length of the hose without crumpling. You're far better off using a TIG welder for aluminum, although it is possible with a MIG setup.

Answer 7

Yes, it can be done.  You'll have to use aluminum wire of course.  Change over to teflon wire guides.  reduce the tension so you don't crush the wire.  Now, practice.  Go slow with the flow at first until you get the feel of it.

Aluminum expands more than steel as it heats up. Therefore, the proper-sized hole in the contact tip is larger for aluminum than for steel. Be sure to purchase contact tips specifically designed for aluminum, or poor electrical contact may result. Warning signs of an improperly-sized contact tip are wire shaving or scratches on the wire, unusual arcing behavior and irregular wire feeding, typically observed as an erratic, varying arc length.

But again, practice, practice, practice.