Can someone explain please

[bigbadbugga]

Sorry if this is in the wrong place, but it's a question about mig welding aluminium.

I have been informed that I can weld aluminium using my portamig 185 by changing to a Teflon liner and using argon.

Is this correct?

I always thought I would need a special mig to do this, the same as you need an acdc tig to weld aluminium.

If yes, why does it work with mig but not with dc tig?

 

[TechnicAl]

it does work with TIG

Its just better on AC than DC

One pole gives you penetration the other cleans the oxide

You only get the pen with MIG so the weld quality isnt as good

 

[bigbadbugga]

Thanks.

Good to know, I might get some wire and a new liner and have a dabble. I just looked in the tutorials on here too.

 

[F.J.]

I weld ally with MIG all the time. Albeit I have a pulse mig (Cebora 2035/m) but I also have 2 normal MIGs (Lincoln Electric Powertec 360s and Cebora 2020 Synergic) that I use. The pulse obviously leaves a better finish and will weld thin ally upto 7-8 mm. I use a Teflon liner, and also have 'U' rollers instead of 'V' rollers as the 'V' rollers can crush the wire as it feeds through the rollers causing the wire to kink then birds nest which p****s me off. I also have a push/pull torch for the cebora's which gives a much smoother feed. The Lincoln also gives a nice finish even though it has a standard torch.

One thing I will say is find out what grade the ally is before you shell out on wire as the different wires can make a difference to how you adjust to welding it.

Good luck and have fun

 

[craigthewelder]

We do quite a bit of ally mig welding. Everything F.J said in the previous post is true. We only use it on thicker sections, if we can tig it we will do that instead. Here's a pic of some ally mig welding done with a pulse set, 15mm plate and 3/8" wall tube.

 

[taiko44]

hi mate,im looking at getting one of these,its to build a alloy boat,i have used many machines in the feild by far reccommended is the fronius 270 but i need single phase applicatin hence the cebora 2035 pulse as you say you have,i havnt seen or used one of these machines,this comes with a 4 mtr push pull gun,sounds all good.can you easily adjust the freq of the pulse ?its alot of out lay expense,i will be welding 4 mm mainly and 5 mm.can these machines handle 170 amps long runs with 1.2mm wire?
cheers mate ant info be great,Thanks

 

[taiko44]

hi mate,im looking at getting one of these,its to build a alloy boat,i have used many machines in the feild by far reccommended is the fronius 270 but i need single phase applicatin hence the cebora 2035 pulse as you say you have,i havnt seen or used one of these machines,this comes with a 4 mtr push pull gun,sounds all good.can you easily adjust the freq of the pulse ?its alot of out lay expense,i will be welding 4 mm mainly and 5 mm.can these machines handle 170 amps long runs with 1.2mm wire?
cheers mate ant info be great,Thanks opps this is to F.J

 

[craigthewelder]

The only other thing i should add is make sure you use one size up on your contact tip. If you'r running 1mm wire use a 1.2mm tip.

 

[Jim Davey]

The only other thing i should add is make sure you use one size up on your contact tip. If you'r running 1mm wire use a 1.2mm tip.

Or buy the tips specifically designed for ally, they have a slightly larger clearance, one size up is usually too much, a chamfer at the outlet to avoid a hot spot at the edge and usually are of a higher grade of copper alloy that gives constant good contact at higher temperatures than standard grade copper tips do. Lastly be sure to nip them up and don't leave them finger tight as they cant conduct the heat away into the torch head like they are supposed to if they are left loose.

The tip will have the size and type e.g. 1.0A stamped onto it if it's a Binzel tip to denote aluminium.