MiG welding Aluminum??

[Industrial Toys]

A friend got sold a spool gun for (aluminum) use on a small Lincoln suitcase style welder, by the dealer. It is apparently just a piece of junk, incapable of the heat required for the task.

 

[Jaylegger]

A friend got sold a spool gun for (aluminum) use on a small Lincoln suitcase style welder, by the dealer. It is apparently just a piece of junk, incapable of the heat required for the task.

Can you be more specific? Are your referring to the spool gun or the welder that is junk? What exactly do you mean by "suitcase welder"? Was the suitcase welder 110v or 220v? What thickness of aluminum was being welded??

 

[Industrial Toys]

Sorry, I can't give model numbers. Just that my friend is super pissed because he was sold a combination (both Lincoln) that doesn't work at all. So it is possible to get sales advice that is wrong and end up with equipment that won't do the job. They are not a big customer, so maybe had no clout to return the equipment, AND, the spool gun was only bought much later.

 

[yomax4]

The problem with a spoolgun and a 115v welder is twofold. usually not enough wire feed speed or voltage to do much. You often can do like 1/8" no ore no less and that's about it. Either you run out of wire speed or not enough power. I love aluminum Mig welding, just not with a spoolgun. Keep practicing.

 

[Industrial Toys]

My friend was asking, what direction he should go in. For occasional light 1/8" fabrication. MIG or TIG? Another friend welded a 1/4" bung onto an aluminum radiator for me using TIG. I was shocked how long it took, even though he admitted he wasn't proficient at it.

 

[lennyzx11]

You are trying to lay too much in a single pass. It is a very fast process on aluminum. Back off the wire speed by 40% and see what happens.

Mark, do you mean that I should increase my travel speed for the process? I’m using the ol slow and steady stitch and back up a little method. Kinda two steps forward and one back.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

MIG shouldn't be stepped like that to begin with. It doesn't need it. Aluminum MIG is a spray transfer process to boot. You need a steady, accelerated forward travel speed for aluminum.