mixed argon / co2 gas for ali?

[steve_morris]

at the moment i have a mixed argon / co2 (95/5%) bottle that i use with my mig for steel

would this work for aluminium or would it need 100% argon?

 

[dannyp]

pure argon

 

[steve_morris]

what would happen if i did use the mixed gas?

 

[pedrobedro]

what would happen if i did use the mixed gas?

You'll get black stuff in the welds and they will be porous.

 

[Hitch]

Don't know exactly what will happen, but it won't be good!

If you are migging, theres a few gases available, but the most basic will be pure argon.

 

[steve_morris]

looks like a few broken things will be getting left a month or 2 until the current bottle is empty and i can swap it for a pure argon

 

[hotrodder]

OK might have got the wrong end of the stick but from the OP i'm guessing you've never welded ally? If that's the case then before you spend money on pure argon and a new liner, wire etc unless i'd suggest sharing what sort of ally things you have to repair and with what MIG. Thin ally (sub 3mm, definatly sub 2mm) ain't really MIG territory if we're talking a small/DIY machine. Especially if the welds need to be airtight. If it's thicker you'll need a bigger/more powerful machine than you would for steel of the equivilant thickness

If you've been there/done that and just haven't got any argon then appologies, just ignore the above

 

[steve_morris]

i have done some (very limited amount) of ali welding before with TIG, although i dont have it anymore. used pure argon for that, but then swapped it to mixed for the MIG.

mostly one of those things id like to have a go at. and for what i have to fix, welding would be better than putting a bolt through it (which is alternative)