MIG welding aluminium?

[Bren G]

Anybody tried this? I have done stainless steel in the past, but never ali.

The reason I ask is I have damaged an oil cooler on a vehicle I am restoring, one of the outlets has sheared because I could'nt uncouple the fittings due to being seized and lack of room.

Obviously tig is most suitable, but I don't have equipment, if the MIG is a no go then I will look for a local engineering shop to do the repair.

 

[the snooper]

forget the mig for that you will have no luck tig is the way to go get someone to do it on their tea break for beer money

 

[shenion]

MIG aluminum is tricky. Thin stuff even more.

You will need to practice on something similar to get the feel and use pure argon gas. Also, oil-tight welds would be near impossible.

 

[Bren G]

Scott

You have echoes my sentiments - my concern was getting a weld that would be oil - tight, I was concerned doing it at home would not really be an option.

I will put the feelers out.

 

[shenion]

I have done a radiator with MIG. It was filling a hole about 1/2" long and 3/16" wide. I already had a replacement and figured why not.

Whole weld took about 2 seconds or less. Start in undamaged area to let a weld pool form, the zig-zag real fast over break. Came out perfect. i was real lucky

Another DIY option I did not mention is aluminum brazing. It takes practice, the filler flows like water and you need to stir the weld to get through the oxide layer that forms. It works well on thin stuff.

I heat an entire area, fill with rod, then stir with a piece of stiff wire. Or tin with filler, then while still hot rub with SS brush. Finally lay a filler bead.

I used to use it a lot and built things using it. After getting the TIG the rods sit unused.