this may seem like a stupid question but how can MIG welders weld aluminum with DC current when TIG has to use AC i understand why TIG uses AC. its because there is oxidization on the aluminum so could the same principle of using DC like a mig be applied to stick? the reason i ask this is because i am looking into buying a little DC buzz box and i was wondering if i would be able to weld aluminum with it?thanks in advanceRyan
Reply:The last method to attempt to weld Al would be with stick. I you want the stack of dimes look with the ability to weld a wide range of thin Al then save up your money and get a tig welder. I you want to reinvent the wheel and try to attemp to find a cheap and easy way to weld Al then you got remember that sometimes cheap ends up equaling expensive. What EXACTLY do you want to weld? If you answer this question it will help people point you in the right direction.
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k let me clarify i would like to be able to weld up to 3/32" aluminum i know this can be done with a TIG. it can also be done with a DC MIG using a spool gun. my question is how can a DC MIg weld Aluminum and a DC stick can't?
Reply:Again, what exactly do you want to weld? intakes, fuel cells, angle, sq. tubing. From my understanding weld Al with mig is usually limited to 1/8" or thicker, thinner can be done but requires more skill. Also welding Al in more finicky with setting adjustments and travel speed and unforgiving while doing a weld. DC mig uses Ar to create a shield which is more ideal since nothing else needs to be consumed unlike stick that uses flux. I'm sure the CC vs CV has something to do with it also. I guess another question to ask would, what kind of bead appearance do you want to obtain?
Reply:You can weld aluminum with dc stick, the results are just not that great, especially on something thin.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
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k i figured it wouldn't look pretty. so could you TIG weld aluminum with DC then since you can stick weld and they are basically the same concept? and yes i understand i can mig weld aluminum using a spool gun that wasn't really what i was asking but good information to have. thanks Ryan
Reply:Originally Posted by trouble007how can MIG welders weld aluminum with DC current when TIG has to use AC i understand why TIG uses AC? thanks in advance - trouble007
Reply:I don't think you can TIG AL with DC, AC only with a TIG machine.LarryMiller XMT 304 CC/CVSyncrowave 180 SDLincoln PowerMig 255XTTermalDynamics 52Lincoln 305GComlpete machine shop to back it up
Reply:Ryan - that previous post is hard to find with a search.Here is the link - much easier to use - http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=36555Rick V 1 Airco Heliwelder 3A/DDR3 CTC 70/90 amp Stick/Tig Inverters in Parallel1 Lincoln MIG PAK 151 Oxy-Acet
Reply:thanks guys i figured it out appreciate all the speedy replies i got thanks againRyan
Reply:you can tig weld thicker AL on DC you need to use helium as the shielding gas.
Reply:Instead of worrying if AC or DC will weld Al, maybe look at what your building. What you want to build may dictate what process you will need to complete your project.
Reply:you don't need AC to Tig Al you just need to use helium with DC. only problem is Helium with high enough purity is rather costly. if you don't believe me, look on the hobart weldtalk forum, there is a guy on there that does it regularly.SA-250DLincoln Pro-MIG 140 w/spoolgunVictor Journeyman O/A outfitWP-26, WP-17, WP-9 TIG torches run off my SA-250Metabo grinders and all the other stuff...
Reply:The real answer to the true question the original poster is asking is... For all practical purposes, no, you won't be able to weld aluminum with your dc arc welder, except with aluminum arc welding sticks.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Some earlier discussion on TIG welding Aluminum with DC:http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...=dcen+aluminum
Reply:thanks someone above gave me a link and i now understand why. thanks for all the inputRyan
Reply:You can TIG weld aluminum quite easily on DCEP with pure argon, however it requires larger tungsten and is still limited to thin sections. The problem is that DCEP puts about 70% of the heat generated into the electrode, rather than on the workpiece. This will rapidly overheat your tungsten and make a mess if you exceed the amperage limit.But on thin sections with an 1/8" tungsten it is an ideal way to go.MIG welders work on the same principal, they must be run on DCEP to provide the cleaning action that is needed but because the electrode is consumable you can run much higher amperage's.Have we all gone mad?
