MIG welding aluminum trouble

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hi,this is my first time attempting to weld aluminum. i've welded steel successfully with flux-core and gas, and now i've decided to try aluminum.i'm running pure argon, with a flowmeter, and i've tried all different power settings, and both 4043 wire and 5356 wire with no luck. the wire will melt, but i just don't get any penetration, the weld will just break off easily.other info:i'm using a lincoln electric weldpack100 120vi've tried different kinds of aluminum, mainly casti'm using 100% argonthanks for any advice/help
Reply:Originally Posted by di_rosahi,this is my first time attempting to weld aluminum. i've welded steel successfully with flux-core and gas, and now i've decided to try aluminum.i'm running pure argon, with a flowmeter, and i've tried all different power settings, and both 4043 wire and 5356 wire with no luck. the wire will melt, but i just don't get any penetration, the weld will just break off easily.other info:i'm using a lincoln electric weldpack100 120vi've tried different kinds of aluminum, mainly casti'm using 100% argonthanks for any advice/help
Reply:Originally Posted by Go1lumYour machine is underpowered for Al.
Reply:Unless you are using .023 wire and welding under 3/32", you probably won't be able to do it with that machine. You MAY get short-arc to work with pre heating.
Reply:your machine is too small, you need more power for al. at least a 175 or 180.Guy_48Welding is an art......Millermatic 252Lincoln SP175PlusLincoln 225 AC/DC
Reply:Smallest aluminum wire I've seen is .035.   I've only seen .023 in steel wires.I agree, you don't  have enough juice to heat it up enough to wet in the weld.  It just sits on top of the joint with no fusion.   I had to re-do some welds for a customer who had paid another welder to make him something from aluminum.   The person mig'd it and apparently didn't have enough juice cause the welds had no penetration at all and were cold lapped and the parts broke off at the slightest force.   The customer couldn't tell me what kinda machine was used but I'm guessing it was a very small mig by the looks of the welds.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Do you have it on + electrode?DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:I have to correct myself on the wire size.   We used .030 aluminum wire at work on occasion and I forgot I have a roll of it here too.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Simply not going to happen with your pint size machine, don't even bother....You need 185 amps & 18-23 volts to weld 035. 150 amps @ 15-18 volts to run 030. Without a spoolgun setup , your not going to be able to run 023, even with 5356, and then you would still need at least 150 amps to melt it. 4043 023 melts at 130 amps, but again it barely goes through a spoolgun without bird nesting
Reply:i was using + electrode, but yeah, alright, point taken. time to look for a new machine.thanks for the input