Arc welding aluminum? If so... AC?

[SiPMerlin150]

A collegue of mine was asking me today if I could weld some pieces of aluminium (not sure of thickness yet) mainly fillet and corner edge welds...I don't have any accomodation for a aluminum MIG welding, nor tig.

I have a 130 amp AC buzzbox.... I've seen aluminium rods....Is this going to work or am I going to make a substandard mess.... This isn't structural..just something for his bathroom. I mentioned I only do mild steel..but that would rust.

Will it just look like a stuttery weld?

 

[the snooper]

it wont be easy, i would imagine something from a bathroom to be quite thin.
i would give it a miss it will turn out awful

 

[zzr1200]

I believe the arc would be DC + Electrode, so the flow of electrons would be from the Item to Electrode, so the surface oxide is lifed/removed from the item to be welded. Others will be along to comment further, soon.

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

does it have to be aluminium? would a stainless piece be a neater job?

 

[SiPMerlin150]

does it have to be aluminium? would a stainless piece be a neater job?

I guess it could, bearing in mind I have some rather 'useless' welders for anything other than mild steel, Would AC work for stainless steel?

 

[Rrunnach]

MMA welding al/al is messy, even for an experienced hand, I'd give this one a big swerve............

 

[SiPMerlin150]

MMA welding al/al is messy, even for an experienced hand, I'd give this one a big swerve............

I may do so..I did tell him it could be spattery,, I'll try and coax him to change materials for stainless steel.... He's no bought any material yet or drawn any plans so I'll have a chat with him tommorow about it.

 

[PTvor]

I think most aluminium arc rods only work on DC, you'd need to be sure before you bought them, and they're expensive. It's notoriously hard anyway.

Avoid it.

 

[wyn]

Here's a pic of some arc welding i tried on aluminium once.
As soon as the arc started i couldn't see a thing with all the smoke

All in all a bit of a nightmare to try to stick something together
.

 

[SiPMerlin150]

Wow, I imagined it would look like this This should clear any doubts in my mind as whether to give this a go or not Today, I shall try any talk him into stainless steel. Thank you for all of the useful information guys!

I'll report back with what he wants to do and (hopefully) he'll fold and use stainless rather than Alu.

 

[aidank]

Here's a pic of some arc welding i tried on aluminium once.
As soon as the arc started i couldn't see a thing with all the smoke

All in all a bit of a nightmare to try to stick something together
.



View attachment 30704

when I was doing TIG course, remember instructor saying if you don't get it right it looks like bird s***e

 

[stew]

id stay away from stainless with mma too. yeah its fine, but for a bathroom wont look great imo. maybe im fussy.

 

[backpurge]

Agree with Stew, would have thought you would need to be doing that sort of stuff with TIG if it going to be on view

 

[SiPMerlin150]

Agree with Stew, would have thought you would need to be doing that sort of stuff with TIG if it going to be on view

Fortunately, he knows someone who can tig weld...so that will be a better option I've told him i'm soley a mild steel welder (at the moment)

 

[KemppiFrog]

Depending on the job: MMA SS can be fine, if you can grind/flap disc it smooth. Plus some pickle to clean it up. Not ideal, but works fine. Built a few boat bits this way. It is better on thicker stuff, 3mm up. For thinner, Mig is better or tig if you have the kit.
Shower sounds thin, so V careful stick stuff. Lots of tacks and grinding.
KF