Will they work?

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OK guys I have a few questions for the gurus... I am wanting to weld some aluminum. It is going to be 3/4" square or round tubing with  .125 wall. I have a 225 volt ark welder and a 115v air cooled tig torch for it and I also have a lincoln 3200 weld pak mig... Can either of these do the work? Which one? How do I set it up? Let me say that I have never welded aluminum before... Thats why my questions might come across as ignorant..  So, shoot me some thoughts.
Reply:To do it with mig, you'll have to buy a bottle of argon and a regulator/flowmeter (if you dont have one already), u-groove drive rolls for the feeder, a teflon liner for the torch, and of course a roll of wire.   If this is the only aluminum job you want to do with it, not worth it to spend all that money setting it up.  The results won't be all that great either.  Your mig is underpowered.  It won't like feeding the soft aluminum wire either.   You'll have to run .030 or .035 wire too, cause you don't have the juice to burn 3/64.  The thinner wires don't want to feed down a push torch lead.As far as the stick welder goes, you'll have to find out if they make aluminum rods that run on AC.   You won't be able to tig weld aluminum with your AC buzz box without a high frequency box, which is quite expensive, so stick is your only option with the buzz box.  If you do try it stick welding it, do yourself a favor and get the square tube.   Trying to go around a a small diameter thin wall (thin for stick) round tube with an aluminum stick is not going to be fun unless you're already skilled at welding small diameter tube with stick, as well as welding aluminum with stick.  I'm guessing no on both.Your best option would be to find someone who has aluminum welding capability and pay to have it welded for you.   This will be your least expensive option and the result will be much better than what can be accomplished with the equipment you have available.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:That is what I thought... But that brings up a few more comments and questions... I already have 100% argon tank , regulator and .30 aluminum wire... Here is where my questions come in... I have an oxy torch... If I preheat the material, do you think I will be able to use the 3/64? My drive roll has a groove in the bottom one already and a bearing for the top. Here is a pic. sorry it is a little blurry... Will this work or is there some other roll drive I need to get?    Setup?Last edited by JMaris; 11-19-2009 at 12:39 AM.
Reply:The biggest wire you'll be able to run with the small 110v mig is .035.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:You still need the teflon liner kit- as Desert mentioned not the best even with the new liner- trying to push a wet noodle through a straw  and the underpowered Lincoln 120v machine.I think the Liner Kit is 100.00Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:USA Weld products has teflon liners for the Lincoln MIG welders for about $15.00.  It's the rollers that are expensive.MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build