Aluminum welding question....

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I am trying to find out from someone with experience about aluminum Tig welding. As I understand it,you cannot Tig aluminum with a DC machine, so what is up with these aluminum spool guns offered with DC machines? How does that work? Probably a silly question but really would like a good explanation.Sincerely thanks!
Reply:You should go to Weldingtipsandtricks.com , or Weld.com . It takes a while to explain it , or you could watch a few videos and get a ton of good information. Yes, you can TIG weld aluminum with DC, see the video(special process).Yes you can MIG weld aluminum with DC, see the video (different gas than steel , see the video).Yes you can TIG weld aluminum with AC see the video.You should be able to decide what process is right for your situation after watching some videos on the two above websites. Just use the search box to find loads of informative videos. They are well produced , and easy to watch too. Good LuckAirco 250 ac/dc Heliwelder Square waveMiller Synchrowave 180 sdMiller Econo Twin HFLincoln 210 MPDayton 225 ac/dcVictor torchesSnap-On YA-212Lotos Cut60DPrimeweld 225 ac/dcPrimeweld mig180Miller AEAD-200
Reply:Mig welding is Constant Voltage, TIG welding is Constant Current.  Just the laws of nature!   But actually you can weld TIG weld aluminum with DC, you'll need strait  Helium instead of Argon and I think yo needHigh Frequency starter.   This mainly for thick aluminum and the appearance isn't pretty.We've done so much, for so long, with so little. Were now qualified to do anything with nothing !
Reply:

Originally Posted by Rhillis44

I am trying to find out from someone with experience about aluminum Tig welding. As I understand it,you cannot Tig aluminum with a DC machine, so what is up with these aluminum spool guns offered with DC machines? How does that work? Probably a silly question but really would like a good explanation.Sincerely thanks!
Reply:Just to add to what JDM said..you can TIG weld aluminum on DC, using electrode negative polarity and helium, but it doesn't come out looking very clean. In AC TIG welding, the electrode negative half of the cycle puts heat into the work piece, the electrode positive half of the cycle cleans the oxides, but also puts the heat into the tungsten. To much electrode positive in your balance setting and the tungsten begins to melt. This isn't a problem in MIG as you want the heat put into the electrode (the wire) as aluminum MIG is usually a spray process and not a short circuit process.Miller Multimatic 255