Welding aluminium with Mig. Beginner status.

[PerkinsEngine]

First post.

Could someone please tell me how to weld aluminium.

I'm a beginner who has welded bits of mild steel but I want to try the aluminium.

My welder is a SWP 180 Amp mig welder which has a Euro torch. The spool will take 0.6 or 0.8 wire.

Can I just buy a roll of appropriate wire and weld away?

Do I need anything else? New torch, nozzle etc?

By the way I am UK based so if there are any recommended UK suppliers that would be useful.

Thank you.

 

[pedrobedro]

Argon gas is needed, you can't use your mix or co2. 5356 wire is stiffer than 4043 if you are using your normal feed system and you will need an oversize tip and preferably a Teflon torch liner.

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

If possible a spool on gun or a push pull gun is good but can be acheived without, and you will need pure argon

 

[F.J.]

You'll also find that your travel speed will need to be increased otherwise you risk blowing through!

 

[Rrunnach]

Tried to find someone who know's what to do, watch a few demo's then practice, al/al mig is a totally different beast from mig on carbon.........

 

[backpurge]

Teflon liner running out of the back of the euro connector to as close to the drive rolls as you can get it , personally not so sure about the oversize tip, aluminium drive rolls if you can get them for you machine.

Set the drive roll pressure so the rollers skid as soon as you nip the wire between your fingers were it comes out of the end of the contact tip, keep the torch as straight as you possibly can and be prerared for hours of frustration, with a 180 amp machine you may just get away with it