Poboy kartman
Senior Moments Member
Has anyone here...(or know of anyone who has) welded aluminum with the cheapy HF mig welders?
Where do you get the tanks and argon gas from?
Where do you get the tanks and argon gas from?
Welding Aluminum?
- Thread starter Poboy kartman
- Start date
- Status
Poboy kartman
Senior Moments Member
Thanks....I usually get my gas at Shell.
I've done a little looking around. Until you posted, I didn't even know what a spool gun was, but the short answer is no. Of course, you don't need a welder to stick weld if you have car batteries!
So..it's been done , a few with Hobarts said they didn't have any problems. A few said they shortened their leads and installed a teflon liner. Our own dear administrator here (Robert D Jung) said he successfully did some ugly welds with 75/25 argon/ CO2. And some said all they did was ruin a bunch of tips.
After checking it out, just to get a cylinder and gas is about what I paid for my welder. Seeing as it's not set up for gas, I'm not gonna drop the cash..(as if I had it) to use my neighbors welder. It's 220 anyway, and IDK if it is 110 selectable.
So...I'm probably going to give it a go someday after getting another used welder and dedicating it to aluminum welding.
I'll also be looking for deals on tanks and pondering a way to rig a flux cored welder to mig.
I've done a little looking around. Until you posted, I didn't even know what a spool gun was, but the short answer is no. Of course, you don't need a welder to stick weld if you have car batteries!
So..it's been done , a few with Hobarts said they didn't have any problems. A few said they shortened their leads and installed a teflon liner. Our own dear administrator here (Robert D Jung) said he successfully did some ugly welds with 75/25 argon/ CO2. And some said all they did was ruin a bunch of tips.
After checking it out, just to get a cylinder and gas is about what I paid for my welder. Seeing as it's not set up for gas, I'm not gonna drop the cash..(as if I had it) to use my neighbors welder. It's 220 anyway, and IDK if it is 110 selectable.
So...I'm probably going to give it a go someday after getting another used welder and dedicating it to aluminum welding.
I'll also be looking for deals on tanks and pondering a way to rig a flux cored welder to mig.
Id be surprised if a 110 could weld aluminum. That needs quite a bit of juice. Im thinking around 180 amps to do some good aluminum welds. But I could be worng
.
I wish you luck in your endeavors. Let us know if you can get the welds without the spool gun, id be interested in seeing that. If you ever do decide to upgrade welders, I would recommend a eastwood for the price.
Ive seen the 135 mig on sale for $179 before and its comparable to the lincoln 140 mig. I made the leap a got a eastwood 250 mig last year and am very happy with that purchase, I would recommend eastwood welders and will continue to love using mine!
. I wish you luck in your endeavors. Let us know if you can get the welds without the spool gun, id be interested in seeing that. If you ever do decide to upgrade welders, I would recommend a eastwood for the price.
Ive seen the 135 mig on sale for $179 before and its comparable to the lincoln 140 mig. I made the leap a got a eastwood 250 mig last year and am very happy with that purchase, I would recommend eastwood welders and will continue to love using mine!
chancer
ɔ ɥ ɐ u ɔ ǝ ɹ
So your looking to cut your New Aluminum (aluminium) tool box and weld it back together.
You got a 229 dollar box for 49. put it on Craigs list for 200 and buy the correct box, for 179?
You got a 229 dollar box for 49. put it on Craigs list for 200 and buy the correct box, for 179?
Poboy kartman
Senior Moments Member
No...That was only part of it. I'd like to weld a lot of aluminum things. Let's see...I could invest about $150 in stuff to weld aluminum and turn a $50 toolbox into a $200 toolbox...and save $29! BTW: Good luck getting $200 for a $229 toolbox on Craigslist!
I'll do a little shopping around first, but I'll probably just cut the ends and put plywood ends in it...(and have some cool pieces of aluminum diamond plate to sell to Kelly for $25 a piece!)
mckutzy
Well-known member
Depending on the item, maybe brazing might be the ticket.
They repair props, "weld" alum horseshoes, rad building and repair, using this method..
Some rods just need a propane torch.
They repair props, "weld" alum horseshoes, rad building and repair, using this method..
Some rods just need a propane torch.
Poboy kartman
Senior Moments Member
Yeah....I've been meaning to get some of those torch rods for years....just never think about it until my feet are wet and I'm bailing water out of my jon boat.
Edit: Don't they "braze" that aluminum with tig welders?
Edit: Don't they "braze" that aluminum with tig welders?
mckutzy
Well-known member
You can tig braze... Brass/bronze, copper, aluminum... Aswell as using a torch..
Paden87
New member
I have tried to braze aluminum, it ended with a puddle of molten metal. I do copper and brass at my wok but aluminum not so much
chancer
ɔ ɥ ɐ u ɔ ǝ ɹ
Never tried it but that is what I hear. We do Copper and Brass to, but do not even try aluminum.
Poboy kartman
Senior Moments Member
Wow!!!! Never thought of that!!!! I do a lot of veggies in my wok....but never thought of trying to stir fry aluminum!
dwcopple
backyard hooligan
Harbor Freight used to (and still might) sell those rods. I've watched videos on them and the process seems easy as pie. I guess it isn't though huh?
supermanotorious
Winchmaster 5000
I can not stress enough, beg, borrow, and steal until you get the Lincoln 210MP and spool gun kit!
And in response to dw's comment, I have a thought, sweating copper pipe is easy right? well it is when you know how to do it, almost like stupid easy. But when you don't know how, it's almost impossible. Seriously, my girlfriend/wife figure asked me to make some repairs on the house she was selling a few years ago. Her dad helped and despite the help, I was throwing a childlike fit, cussing at the top of my lungs and throwing tools across the yard. Then fast forward a few years when I went to replace the secondary water main shut off on my own house. Same MO- this time throwing tools into the street, screaming cusswords in front of the neighbors. I called a contractor friend out of desperation and offered to pay him to come fix it. He calmly explained that I needed to use a straw or hose and suck all the water out of the underground pipe I was working on and sure enough it worked beautifully.
I suspect torch and stick aluminum welding IS easy- once you know how to do it.....
And in response to dw's comment, I have a thought, sweating copper pipe is easy right? well it is when you know how to do it, almost like stupid easy. But when you don't know how, it's almost impossible. Seriously, my girlfriend/wife figure asked me to make some repairs on the house she was selling a few years ago. Her dad helped and despite the help, I was throwing a childlike fit, cussing at the top of my lungs and throwing tools across the yard. Then fast forward a few years when I went to replace the secondary water main shut off on my own house. Same MO- this time throwing tools into the street, screaming cusswords in front of the neighbors. I called a contractor friend out of desperation and offered to pay him to come fix it. He calmly explained that I needed to use a straw or hose and suck all the water out of the underground pipe I was working on and sure enough it worked beautifully.
I suspect torch and stick aluminum welding IS easy- once you know how to do it.....
Kartorbust
Inmate #627
I know this is old but a 140 mig welder will weld Aluminum just fine with a spool gun which is generally an extra $150. Welding Aluminum requires pure argon gas. You can buy the gas cylinders from Airgas or similar welding supply stores. I'd suggest you buy the cylinder and not lease/rent especially of you plan to go across state lines or you need more gas but you have to go back to the company you are leasing from. Huge hassle. Aluminum is a tough metal to weld with wire feed as it does like to crack. Praxair is another supply company you can get the shielding gas from. For the welder, spool gun, cylinder you're talking a minimum of $800. Northern Tool Klutch brand is good. I have a Northern Industrial brand 140i welder that I bought a year before they went to Klutch for welders. Only downside with 140i is low duty cycle of only 20%. Going to like a Hobart 190 MVP would be nice since sometimes they are packaged with a spool gun for under $1000.
supermanotorious
Winchmaster 5000
I guess we never thought to ask you WHAT you wanted to aluminum weld. I saw this video a long time ago and was fascinated. Turns out there is some aluminum welding you don't even need a welder to do!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7nPz4y5IE4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7nPz4y5IE4
Kartorbust
Inmate #627
Yeah I forgot you could do oxy fuel for Aluminum. Essentially like brazing but you don't get as good heat and puddle control lime you would with tig.
supermanotorious
Winchmaster 5000
chancer
ɔ ɥ ɐ u ɔ ǝ ɹ
Or from the same guy... How to make an aluminum foundry:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHD10DjxM1g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHD10DjxM1g
- Status