dc tig aluminium

[leadpig]

how hard/cost effective is it to dc weld aluminium, i know you need helium and its a dirty process while welding
but would it work out cheaper and easier just to bite the bullet now and buy a new ac tig ( should of done it at the start i suppose) as some of the prices for helium i have just seen made me feel ill lol
i have not done any aluminium welding but have been asked a fair bit recently, and want to start
tia

 

[stuvy]

You can use argon on DC with aluminium

 

[Pete.]

AC rig is cheap compared to helium. Best thing is just buy the AC machine and go welding.

 

[leadpig]

You can use argon on DC with aluminium

really i have always been told you could not, anything else needed

 

[stuvy]

really i have always been told you could not, anything else needed

Have a look on the search function on here

Welding Aluminium with a DC TIG

All the books say to use an AC TIG for aluminium (good cleaning of the oxide etc), but someone on the Locost forum has produced a perfectly nice looking weld with a DC TIG: http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=50458 (second post down). It doesn't seem unreasonable that it should...

www.mig-welding.co.uk

I think this was the top thread

 

[stuvy]

Tig DC aluminium

Hi there, I was wondering, i´ve search over the internet and as i can see (mr-tig on youtube also) says you can weld aluminium with a dc tig HF welder. some say as to be DCEN, others DCEP, some say with argon and other with pure helium.. now, for thin aluminium sheets and pipes (1mm, 1.5mm) can...

www.mig-welding.co.uk

Better answers here

Yes it can be done but it’s not the best on thin stuff

Helium is typically for thicker aluminium

 

[Brad93]

Last time I looked helium was over £400 for an industrial size bottle.

Not seen DCEN done without helium.

 

[Munkul]

really i have always been told you could not, anything else needed

Yeah - incredible attention to cleaning, lots of amps, and an expectation of disappointment in the finished welds.

 

[Brad93]

The welds end up looking like mig welds made way too hot. Scaly and dull

 

[leadpig]

Biting the bullet a getting the r-tech 161 ac/dc

 

[Dutch Welder]

Don't.
The 160 amps it gives are really on the low end.

 

[leadpig]

Don't.
The 160 amps it gives are really on the low end.

to late lol, i cant afford biggger at the minute, and wont be welding more than 4mm

 

[stuvy]

At least they have a good warranty to back up the bad welders