Mig Welding Aluminum

There are several aluminum mig welding techniques that work ok but the one used in the video is just a slow steady motion.

Mig welding aluminum.

Mig welding thick aluminum with an underpowered welder. For 1 8 thick aluminum unless you have the machine set just right the slow steady bead just builds up too much heat because by the time you reach the edge of the metal its really too hot and leaves a huge crater. In most cases it will take 21 23 volts to get the arc to spray transfer. With aluminum a special wire feed system is needed otherwise the welding electrode wire will break and bunch up.

There is no short circuiting in spray transfer and the deposition rate and efficiency are. When mig welding aluminum the desired mode is spray transfer. Pre heat the base metal with a hand torch before you weld. While mig and tig are commonly used methods for welding aluminum there are several other types of welding that can be used.

Laser beam and electron beam welding. Once the right equipment is set up it s a pretty easy metal to weld. This process is a very smooth transfer of molten metal droplets from the end of the electrode to the molten pool. Matt covers the basics of welding aluminum demonstrating techniques using a spool gun with a mig 175 welder from eastwood.

Listen up and take in the knowledge peter has to offer. Here are some things to do that can help you when you are mig welding thick aluminum and your welder isn t quite up to it. Beam welding techniques are commonly used for aluminum. Mig welding aluminum basics.

Pre heat your project piece. If welding out of position you will want the wire feed speed fast enough to keep the weld full of metal at a fast crackle. Other ways to weld aluminum. Peter zila master aluminum welder is back to show klay some more aluminum welding this time with mig.

The settings needed to mig weld aluminum are pretty much the same for all positions. Aluminum is a tricky metal to weld with a mig welder because it takes more heat than mild steel usually in the range of 21 to 24 volts. Mig welding aluminum relies heavily on having the right equipment due to the soft nature of the welding electrode wire. Matt covers the basics of welding aluminum demonstrating techniques.