Mig welding a new aluminum gas tank

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Been thinking about making a new gas tank from aluminum. I know most tanks are tig welded. Would a 140 amp mig with a spool gun off of 120v outlet  work fine for up to around 3/16 inch material ?SA 200s : 1944 1945 1963 1965 1969 1981 SA 250 D3.152 DC only2004 Ranger 10,000Lincoln Pro Mig 135Miller Load BankHobart GPB 258 PipelinerHobart GPB 261 MainlinerHobart Airforce 250Everlast PA 200st
Reply:Proably not. Even tho outside corners don't take much, but sounds sketchy. Could be done with the right preheat possibly and if you welded down hill but then you gota worry about penetrationLast edited by motolife313; 05-13-2015 at 12:24 PM.
Reply:Hi motolife, I was wondering if it would have enough heat. What's the thinnest I could go 12 gauge or 14 maybe, and still get by OK.?SA 200s : 1944 1945 1963 1965 1969 1981 SA 250 D3.152 DC only2004 Ranger 10,000Lincoln Pro Mig 135Miller Load BankHobart GPB 258 PipelinerHobart GPB 261 MainlinerHobart Airforce 250Everlast PA 200st
Reply:a little 110v machine diesnt have the power to weld alu mig. 3/16th is the min id ever build a fuel tank out of the thinner may generaly dont stand up to the hydrolic hammering of slashing fuel.High Octane Welding
Reply:I just seen a 1/16 100 gallon tank out of AL at my machinists the other day. He drove all over the states with it he said. I would do 1/8 or thicker myself. U want to put walls in there so it don't splash to much. I heard they can blow up if you don't have walls in there from the splashing and pressure.
Reply:I've built several aluminum gas tanks in the 50-150 gallon range all from 1/8" sheet.  3/16" is overkill unless you are building a very large tank.  Bend up what you can to minimize the welding and put it together with a baffle or two.  The baffles are more for support structure than to keep the fuel from sloshing.  I usually nip 2" out of the baffle corners for fuel flow between the chambers.  If you are planning on using a spool gun, have a short flange bent on one side of the joint to give you a lap joint instead of a basic outside corner, the extra material in the lap joint makes the welding much easier.  If you plan on mounting an external fuel pump, weld a piece of channel upside down inside the tank to help support the pump.  This will spread out the load around the pump.Miller Dynasty 200DXMiller 252 Miller 250xMiller Syncrowave 250Miller AEAD200 LegendMiller 375 Xtreme plasmaLincoln WeldPak 100Victor O/A
Reply:Ya you could go 11 or 12. 1/8 is enough. Go knock on a big diesel semi tank. There probably 1/8 or thinner. As far as heat I'm not sure, with the right setup maybe it could be done. Try welding a 3/16 outside corner and see what happens? You'll actually need to weld different joints then just out side corners, welding on brackets on the side so you can bolt it on. So you probably don't have enought for a fillet joint. Buy a tig welder?
Reply:Originally Posted by BYW200Been thinking about making a new gas tank from aluminum.  ?
Reply:Its for a Lincoln sa 200 welder,  12 gallon. That's why I'm thinking maybe 12 gauge would work. The factory tank has no baffles, so I think it would be fine without it. Right now I'm trying figure out the best mig welder with a spool gun for a reasonable price in the 140 amp range.SA 200s : 1944 1945 1963 1965 1969 1981 SA 250 D3.152 DC only2004 Ranger 10,000Lincoln Pro Mig 135Miller Load BankHobart GPB 258 PipelinerHobart GPB 261 MainlinerHobart Airforce 250Everlast PA 200st
Reply:MIGHT AS WELL SAVE UP AND GET A HOBART HANDLER MVP AND SPOOLGUN.120v Mig and Alooomimun isnt a great match.Ed 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:I was going to ask the question of who might  have a good package deal with a spool gun so many to choose from. Are the hobarts at tractor supply the same quality as a miller matic or lincoln power mig welders. It would make it easier for parts to get locally at tractor supply, but I always lean a little toward quality if i can.SA 200s : 1944 1945 1963 1965 1969 1981 SA 250 D3.152 DC only2004 Ranger 10,000Lincoln Pro Mig 135Miller Load BankHobart GPB 258 PipelinerHobart GPB 261 MainlinerHobart Airforce 250Everlast PA 200st
Reply:Hobarts are good welders. I've seen a ton of people who like them and not many talk bad about them if any
Reply:Yeah, I have a Hobart plasma cutter, and it works great. I haven't  had to buy another mig welder since 2002 and have not welded with any of the newer stuff thats out there. Didn't think id ever get interested in welding Aluminum until i need it LOL. I'm so used to making my own stuff out of common steel material.SA 200s : 1944 1945 1963 1965 1969 1981 SA 250 D3.152 DC only2004 Ranger 10,000Lincoln Pro Mig 135Miller Load BankHobart GPB 258 PipelinerHobart GPB 261 MainlinerHobart Airforce 250Everlast PA 200st
Reply:Besides, if i could id just buy a spool gun but my mig welder is to old and was made before spool guns were around for it.SA 200s : 1944 1945 1963 1965 1969 1981 SA 250 D3.152 DC only2004 Ranger 10,000Lincoln Pro Mig 135Miller Load BankHobart GPB 258 PipelinerHobart GPB 261 MainlinerHobart Airforce 250Everlast PA 200st
Reply:Why not learn to tig? You can't get that spool gun it tight areas and not best for precision work.
Reply:Originally Posted by BYW200I always lean a little toward quality if i can.
Reply:Nice looking stuff you got there CEP.
Reply:Originally Posted by motolife313Why not learn to tig? You can't get that spool gun it tight areas and not best for precision work.
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPGet this setup then! Almost made a welder out of me.
Reply:Originally Posted by motolife313Nice looking stuff you got there CEP.
Reply:What would be the cheapest AC tig set up i could have without giving up quality. I know cheap and quality don't go togetherSA 200s : 1944 1945 1963 1965 1969 1981 SA 250 D3.152 DC only2004 Ranger 10,000Lincoln Pro Mig 135Miller Load BankHobart GPB 258 PipelinerHobart GPB 261 MainlinerHobart Airforce 250Everlast PA 200st
Reply:Originally Posted by BYW200What does that setup cost?
Reply:Originally Posted by BYW200What would be the cheapest AC tig set up i could have without giving up quality. I know cheap and quality don't go together
Reply:I do have a new Everlast PA200 st welder and it welds 7018 and 6010 rods very good. Only thing is it's DC only.SA 200s : 1944 1945 1963 1965 1969 1981 SA 250 D3.152 DC only2004 Ranger 10,000Lincoln Pro Mig 135Miller Load BankHobart GPB 258 PipelinerHobart GPB 261 MainlinerHobart Airforce 250Everlast PA 200st
Reply:Originally Posted by BYW200Only thing is it's DC only.Hey CEP, is your PA 200 DC or AC? Here is my welds with Aluminum stick rods, need lots of practice. Attached ImagesSA 200s : 1944 1945 1963 1965 1969 1981 SA 250 D3.152 DC only2004 Ranger 10,000Lincoln Pro Mig 135Miller Load BankHobart GPB 258 PipelinerHobart GPB 261 MainlinerHobart Airforce 250Everlast PA 200st
Reply:What was your heat settings....I tried different settings but failedSA 200s : 1944 1945 1963 1965 1969 1981 SA 250 D3.152 DC only2004 Ranger 10,000Lincoln Pro Mig 135Miller Load BankHobart GPB 258 PipelinerHobart GPB 261 MainlinerHobart Airforce 250Everlast PA 200st
Reply:Quality and used equipment can go together very well. I purchased my Lincoln Tig 300/300 about 35 years ago and it still goes strong when I need it. They are common although not exactly  little, light, or a portable type machine. These can be had for under a grand complete and ready to go.SlobPurveyor of intimate unparalleled knowledge of nothing about everything.Oh yeah, also an unabashed internet "Troll" too.....
Reply:Originally Posted by BYW200Hey CEP, is your PA 200 DC or AC?
Reply:I'm starting to understand the concept using DC on aluminum, the sample pic of my aluminum stick welding was the first time with the PA200st just messing around and the metal wasn't clean. My 85 sa200 makes the same rods weld a little smoother.SA 200s : 1944 1945 1963 1965 1969 1981 SA 250 D3.152 DC only2004 Ranger 10,000Lincoln Pro Mig 135Miller Load BankHobart GPB 258 PipelinerHobart GPB 261 MainlinerHobart Airforce 250Everlast PA 200st
Reply:Originally Posted by BYW200Yeah, thats what i need. What does that setup cost? Might be over my head no more than i weld unless i did alot of it.
Reply:Here is what I started with. It works very well, but the duty cycle is a bit light, so large heavy jobs can be tough. But doing jobs like the gas tank you talk about it would be great.http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ws...990733172.htmlYeah, I know, but it'll be ok!Lincoln Square wave 255Miller Vintage mig30a spoolgunThermal Dynamics Pacmaster 100xl plasmaSmith mc torchEllis 1600 band saw
Reply:Looks like i have my work cut out for me. You guys are starting to talk over my head. Don't know all the different combos and setups.SA 200s : 1944 1945 1963 1965 1969 1981 SA 250 D3.152 DC only2004 Ranger 10,000Lincoln Pro Mig 135Miller Load BankHobart GPB 258 PipelinerHobart GPB 261 MainlinerHobart Airforce 250Everlast PA 200st
Reply:Hi welderj, now that is a very attractive setup.SA 200s : 1944 1945 1963 1965 1969 1981 SA 250 D3.152 DC only2004 Ranger 10,000Lincoln Pro Mig 135Miller Load BankHobart GPB 258 PipelinerHobart GPB 261 MainlinerHobart Airforce 250Everlast PA 200st
Reply:Originally Posted by BYW200Yeah, thats what i need. What does that setup cost? Might be over my head no more than i weld unless i did alot of it.