check out my aluminum mig weld

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I took a pic of this tjoint at work when i was setting up the machine for a aluminum test. i was a little fast off the start but a nice bead regardless but i passedLast edited by steve28; 05-16-2007 at 11:40 AM.
Reply:thats a nice looking bead good job and congratsChuckASME Pressure Vessel welder
Reply:very nice!...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:thats a nice beadwere you using a spoolgun or no?cause I need to weld some aluminum but I dont really want to spend $400 on a spoolgun for the amount im going to use it.
Reply:no... where i work we use push/pull guns mostly! you can weld aluminum with a normal whip and gun but it is a pain an example would be going around a pipe. if that whip curves the wire speed will slow down or even stop!i would try to use the thickist wire possible like 3/64 or even 1/16 for the thick stuff, 1/16 is way easier to feed!
Reply:Very nice weld...BobBob WrightSalem, Ohio  Birthplace of the Silver & Deming Drillhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/southbend10k/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sawking/1999 Miller MM185 w/ Miller 185 Spoolmate spoolgun
Reply:I got a bottle of Argon today and started welding Aluminum.  Do you have any tips for Mig Welding Aluminum? Not Having a spool gun wasnt a problem, seems my biggest problem is controlling the bead it seems to just want to get super wide cause its so hot, and it looks like one smooth long bead instead of like yours, which I can do perfectly fine on steel.
Reply:wow! beautifull weld. what's your setup? welderwire diametergas, gas pressurepush/pullthanks
Reply:Looks good.  Aluminum sprays really well with the right setup.  I haven't seen that stuff done since I worked at Heil.  A lot of the guys there could weld like that overhead, in circles, or whatever they wanted to.
Reply:Absolutely sweet bead!!  I've been welding aluminum for 6 years now, and I wished most of the guys I worked with would lay down a bead like that!  Now I don't even weld at all-at least not by hand.  I run a OTC-Daihen AX-V6L robot welder.  (Not sure how that will be recieved here)  And it's a whole new critter to learn!  But so far my experience has been good!  (As long as the Tylenol keeps flowing to my welding bay!)   I still like to get my hands dirty and weld by hand-just so I don't lose my touch!  But lately the only hand welding I've been doing is welding steel-making jigs and weld fixtures.  That's good practice too I guess!   My only advice would be to "MAKE SURE YOU FILL THE CRATERS!!!"  I say that all the time, and with aluminum it's extremely important!Last edited by woodyjdh; 10-06-2006 at 11:21 PM.
Reply:since no machine is the same for a 1/4" aluminum i usally start around 25 volts and 520 on the wire speed that is with 3/64 wire.the technique i used was move ahead and let it fill usally an 1/8" each time.I find doing a 1 count really helps when starting out!
Reply:Originally Posted by kanoa9321I got a bottle of Argon today and started welding Aluminum.  Do you have any tips for Mig Welding Aluminum? Not Having a spool gun wasnt a problem, seems my biggest problem is controlling the bead it seems to just want to get super wide cause its so hot, and it looks like one smooth long bead instead of like yours, which I can do perfectly fine on steel.
Reply:Originally Posted by codearcTry using a mixed gas helium argon  the helium will help the weld burn hotter you will use less energyto weld the biggest problem with Ally is getting it hot enough without using to much power try it .it works for me but i use it on a digital pulsed synergic fronius machine its awsome
Reply:Originally Posted by EngloidThe helium mix really isn't all that necessary, unless you're having problems with an underpowered machine.
Reply:Funny how no comment seems to be a comment.
Reply:Indeed...My only problem welding aluminum is the fact that the travel speed seems to need to be very high once I get it to spray properly.  I'm using a PowCon 400SM supply on single-phase with a Spoolmatic 30A.  The specs aren't clear where it maxes out on single-phase, but supposedly it's somewhere around 250A.  I've checked it with an averaging DC clamp meter and have easily gotten it up to 310-320 amps.-Heath
Reply:Originally Posted by halbrittIndeed...My only problem welding aluminum is the fact that the travel speed seems to need to be very high once I get it to spray properly.  I'm using a PowCon 400SM supply on single-phase with a Spoolmatic 30A.  The specs aren't clear where it maxes out on single-phase, but supposedly it's somewhere around 250A.  I've checked it with an averaging DC clamp meter and have easily gotten it up to 310-320 amps.
Reply:I use straight argon for both.AC TIG is great, but for thicker stuff, MIG is fast, fast, fast.  So fast that I have a hard time keeping up.  If I'm running too hot or move too slow when I'm doing 1/4" plate, I can deform the plate significantly.Pulsed MIG would also be fast on thinner material, I just haven't had a chance to play with it, yet.-Heath
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterahhh see?heren lies the diffrence...i dont spray mig aluminum..although  it does look interesting for sure...strictly tig for me so here is the "diffrence" in gas mix preference from one process to another i would guess?..
Reply:Originally Posted by steve28I took a pic of this tjoint at work when i was setting up the machine for a aluminum test. i was a little fast off the start but a nice bead regardless but i passed
Reply:you have undercut at the end of ur fillet, from what i can see, because ally is a good head conductor as the plate heats up so does ur weld and it will wash the top of the fillet away, it also looks convex as well. its not that good. and before u ask, yes i can do better.
Reply:Originally Posted by boily86  yes i can do better.
Reply:I have used both gases on alum 100% argon and a 75 argon 25 helium. I like the mix better.Nothing is impossible if you have the determination and intestinal fortitude Semper Fi,
Reply:Originally Posted by boily86you have undercut at the end of ur fillet, from what i can see, because ally is a good head conductor as the plate heats up so does ur weld and it will wash the top of the fillet away, it also looks convex as well. its not that good. and before u ask, yes i can do better.
Reply:I'm still waiting for boily86 to us how good he is  Creative metal Creative metal FacebookOriginally Posted by boily86you have undercut at the end of ur fillet, from what i can see, because ally is a good head conductor as the plate heats up so does ur weld and it will wash the top of the fillet away, it also looks convex as well. its not that good. and before u ask, yes i can do better.
Reply:Why is it when I weld ally with my spool gun the weld is nasty with a black soot on and around the weld. It washes off realitively easy but is agrivating none the less. I have tried acidwashing before welding with little affect.
Reply:acid washing?try acetone washing.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Hello Boily86Where are your ripples? Quick to critique but slow to post!!!
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterWell then Mr first post?give us something to critisizePut up or shut up  ...zap!
Reply:Originally Posted by boily86you have undercut at the end of ur fillet, from what i can see, because ally is a good head conductor as the plate heats up so does ur weld and it will wash the top of the fillet away, it also looks convex as well. its not that good. and before u ask, yes i can do better.
Reply:Originally Posted by steve28if i had an end view pic you would see it is  flat not concave, sure i could make a big ugly round bead but hey this isn't steel, a good way to get good at grinding out your welds and doing it right I never claimed to be a pro but i do make a living at it!That was only a practice piece there maybe some flaws but i'll take a little undercut if i need it to make sure i have excessive penatration on a test piece!
Reply:Crap, I wouldnt show my first aluminum weld to you yahoos, You'd tear it up!  Sheesh, I tried doing it with o/a on an 1/8th sheet, with flux, and lets just say it was quite ugly.  NOPE! Not gonna show ya any pics!
Reply:Originally Posted by DoolittleCrap, I wouldnt show my first aluminum weld to you yahoos, You'd tear it up!  Sheesh, I tried doing it with o/a on an 1/8th sheet, with flux, and lets just say it was quite ugly.  NOPE! Not gonna show ya any pics!
Reply:Well, ok, maybe later after I practice.. heh.  I do seem to luv welding, Half the battle is figuring out how to shape your material to what you wanto do.  Grinding, Filing breaking blades etc...  God this is fun.
Reply:Did anyone see boily86's photos?  I can't find them.Ironheart...Beat it to fit, paint it to match
Reply:Originally Posted by IronheartDid anyone see boily86's photos?  I can't find them.
Reply:EDIT: Just noticed this was a pretty old thread. HA...Last edited by RIVERRAT; 03-27-2007 at 06:38 PM.