gerard van der veen
New Member
- Messages
- 2
- Location
- west woodburn, UK
Hi, I am new to the forum, which looks a brilliant source of information; hence my question.
I am in a difficult situation, as I think I ended up (due to my own fault!) with the wrong machine for my purpose and not 100% sure what to do...
I am old school, educated in stick welding (long time ago), fell in love with MIG, stayed over 30 years doing that, but consider myself as an amateur (it's not my profession!). Two years ago a friend offered me to do a little TIG welding; enjoyed it very much...
To keep it short; I ran out of gas, difficulty in getting it; wanted to try Flux... my old MIG couldn't be converted > started to look for a new machine > will be my -last- machine > decided for a AC/DC TIG & MIG... pitched between 500-1000 pounds; want to take up aluminium welding!
Looking on Internet & Youtube at forums etc; I thought I was buying the right machine, somewhere I made a giant mistake as I ended up buying the rebel 215IC and went over budget, but more problematic, when opening the box discovering it is a DC only machine.
Questions: apart from the basic operating principle (I know these);
1) how much is the difference in welding aluminium with MIG oppose to TIG. I thought TIG is easier/nicer to weld; less problems with oxides/cleaning (due to AC) etc.
2) is it possible to use the Rebel, DC, TIG welding Alu with (pure) Helium as shielding gas (& unsure but swapping polarity and turning the TIG point into a ball before start)?
3) Welding (MIG) Alu, is it better to use a Spool Gun i.s.o. its own feeding?
I am new to Alu, but have done sufficient steel welding.
My intention is to make oil tanks for my Bobber and a 2nd oil tank for the blower on my car... and several other alu parts. I am not using it on a weekly basis...
Thanks,
Gerard.
I am in a difficult situation, as I think I ended up (due to my own fault!) with the wrong machine for my purpose and not 100% sure what to do...
I am old school, educated in stick welding (long time ago), fell in love with MIG, stayed over 30 years doing that, but consider myself as an amateur (it's not my profession!). Two years ago a friend offered me to do a little TIG welding; enjoyed it very much...
To keep it short; I ran out of gas, difficulty in getting it; wanted to try Flux... my old MIG couldn't be converted > started to look for a new machine > will be my -last- machine > decided for a AC/DC TIG & MIG... pitched between 500-1000 pounds; want to take up aluminium welding!
Looking on Internet & Youtube at forums etc; I thought I was buying the right machine, somewhere I made a giant mistake as I ended up buying the rebel 215IC and went over budget, but more problematic, when opening the box discovering it is a DC only machine.
Questions: apart from the basic operating principle (I know these);
1) how much is the difference in welding aluminium with MIG oppose to TIG. I thought TIG is easier/nicer to weld; less problems with oxides/cleaning (due to AC) etc.
2) is it possible to use the Rebel, DC, TIG welding Alu with (pure) Helium as shielding gas (& unsure but swapping polarity and turning the TIG point into a ball before start)?
3) Welding (MIG) Alu, is it better to use a Spool Gun i.s.o. its own feeding?
I am new to Alu, but have done sufficient steel welding.
My intention is to make oil tanks for my Bobber and a 2nd oil tank for the blower on my car... and several other alu parts. I am not using it on a weekly basis...
Thanks,
Gerard.