MiG welding Aluminum??

[lennyzx11]

Looking for tips and comments.


I bought a Dixie Chopper last week with a bagger.
The piece (chute) that mounts to the deck for the bagger hose appears to be cast aluminum. It has a chunk knocked out of it that I’d like to patch. About 8” at its longest width of the damage.

I haven’t welded aluminum yet and asking if this will be possible.

I have a Hobart 210MVP. I just ordered a Spoolrunner 100 spoolgun and a roll of Hobart 4043 .030 wire.

I have a Hypertherm 30AIR Plasma cutter to trim and clean up the edges and patch as necessary.

 

[sd455dan]

Sounds like you are an the right track, do you have a tank of pure Argon for the mig?

 

[lennyzx11]

Sounds like you are an the right track, do you have a tank of pure Argon for the mig?

Oops. That was one of the questions I meant to post. I have a bottle of 75/25 but read that pure argon is needed. Do I have to purchase another bottle of pure argon to do this right?

 

[yomax4]

Looking for tips and comments.


I bought a Dixie Chopper last week with a bagger.
The piece (chute) that mounts to the deck for the bagger hose appears to be cast aluminum. It has a chunk knocked out of it that I’d like to patch. About 8” at its longest width of the damage.

I haven’t welded aluminum yet and asking if this will be possible.

I have a Hobart 210MVP. I just ordered a Spoolrunner 100 spoolgun and a roll of Hobart 4043 .030 wire.

I have a Hypertherm 30AIR Plasma cutter to trim and clean up the edges and patch as necessary.

Not sure how thick the piece is but sometimes with thiner material and spoolgun you need to make a series of spot welds and then lay a bead over the top which will look pretty good when youre done. Stinless wire brush the part before you weld. .030 Aluminum will be difficult to work with. Good Luck !!

 

[RNeumann]

YouTube is your friend! A guy called “weldingtipsandtricks” is where I’d start. All good info above. It will need to be very clean and it doesn’t take heat like steel. Totally different beast. Do a bunch of practice before you do anything you care about. Can of worms opened.........enjoy!

 

[sd455dan]

Oops. That was one of the questions I meant to post. I have a bottle of 75/25 but read that pure argon is needed. Do I have to purchase another bottle of pure argon to do this right?

Yes you do, but it will be handy for Tig if you should decide to get into it.

 

[Motorboatin]

We weld nothing but aluminum in our shop and all guns run 3/64 wire (.045)

On thinner material it's easier to control the puddle with the thicker wire. New guys always go looking for .035 wire when thin material lands on their table but they learn pretty quick that it's not the same as steel

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

We weld nothing but aluminum in our shop and all guns run 3/64 wire (.045)

On thinner material it's easier to control the puddle with the thicker wire. New guys always go looking for .035 wire when thin material lands on their table but they learn pretty quick that it's not the same as steel

This. Yep. People get upset that our small 140 mig doesn't support .025" aluminum wire and .030" is borderline. .035 is better for smaller migs. .045" isn't too shabby either.

 

[lennyzx11]

Based on your tips, I’ll pick up a roll of .035 wire also.
I don’t know if that spool gun will run any larger like the .045 mentioned.
And a bottle of pure argon.

 

[Cord]

Get yourself some practice metal. Welding aluminum is totally different from steel. Took me a bit before I could lay an acceptable bead.