Working with aluminum

admin

I'm just a lil old hobbyist welder with a MiG at the moment. But I've been thinking about getting into AL for a few reasons. -Tig looks really cool to me. And I wouldn't have to have two bottles of gas. Just Argon. I like the challenge of learning to weld AL. - One can use a carbide router to mill it. Easy to cut. - a big plus for me would be Anodizing it at home vs steel. All I can do is paint it. I can't powder coat my projects. I have a HH140. I would probably get the 3rd gen AHP TIG. But I would miss my American Welder. I can't justify buying a used miller TIG or something nice for how much I use it. Wish I could afford it though. Any thoughts? Downsides? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:A very cool possibility would be making small repairs on boats for beer money if I ever got good at it too. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:Get the machine and try it! You will be making all kinda of stuff. Tig is very accurate.
Reply:Originally Posted by SeawalkerI'm just a lil old hobbyist welder with a MiG at the moment. But I've been thinking about getting into AL for a few reasons. -Tig looks really cool to me. And I wouldn't have to have two bottles of gas. Just Argon. I like the challenge of learning to weld AL. - One can use a carbide router to mill it. Easy to cut. - a big plus for me would be Anodizing it at home vs steel. All I can do is paint it. I can't powder coat my projects. I have a HH140. I would probably get the 3rd gen AHP TIG. But I would miss my American Welder. I can't justify buying a used miller TIG or something nice for how much I use it. Wish I could afford it though. Any thoughts? Downsides? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:Originally Posted by SeawalkerA very cool possibility would be making small repairs on boats for beer money if I ever got good at it too. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:mechanic416: really?  I would love to try it.  I've got a big family of mechanics and none TIG. Just spool guns. A spool gun, a bottle of Argon, and a box for my Hobart would get me close to that $800 AHP TIG, No? I know the spool guns aren't cheap. What thickness were you welding with your MM140? My understanding is that you can't go much above or below 1/8th. MIG is great, but I'm not in business and I don't want to have 3 bottles for stainless, mild steel, and Al you know?Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:Originally Posted by SeawalkerWhat thickness were you welding with your MM140? My understanding is that you can't go much above or below 1/8th. MIG is great, but I'm not in business and I don't want to have 3 bottles for stainless, mild steel, and Al you know?Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk