Welder experts.

[Brian]

I have a Lincoln 230v MIG welder, 130 amp max output. Its a good little steel welder but I sometimes want to weld aluminum. I was at a store recently and I asked the salesman about a kit to weld aluminum with my machine. He said one is available but it would be practically useless because aluminum transmits heat so quickly I would only be able to use it on very thin material. Why would Lincoln make an aluminum kit if it wouldnt be useful? I wonder if he was just trying to sell me a bigger welder.
I have experience welding aluminum but that is with bigger 3 phase machines at work. What could I do with a 130 amp machine? I would probably want to go up to about 1/4 in.

 

[mikeyr]

your MIG will do aluminium just fine you will need a spool gun if you plan on doing a lot of it though, problem with alu is that it is soft and flexible and will bind/jam in the feed line. It works fine on the very occasional job but for a lot of alu welding, you want a spool gun.

My choice is TIG, welds everything your MIG does and does alu very well. I am surprised its only 130amp and 230v, usually the 230v machines are higher amps. 1/4" is within your amp range but it might have to be done is multiple passes.

 

[danski0224]

Maybe the welding supply house would let you try out the kit on your 1/4 material in the store...

 

[TOMWELDS]

I dont know if that unit is rated for 1/4" AL, but you can do AL with a spoolgun. Also, you'll need Argon gas. On thicker material, you'll probably have to do multiple pass's. If the lack of heat is a problem, you could preheat with an O/A torch or oven.

 

[sberry]

The little machine may be frustrating at best. It can be done. The Lincoln is likely a 130T and was the for runner to the 175 class, almost identical but they just fooled with the rating numbers.

 

[MXtras]

Visit the Hobart forum - tons and tons of threads on this topic.

Basically - If you plan to weld thicker stuff, the MIG will likely do fine (with proper set-up). MIG and aluminum get along pretty well at higher amperages. Cold starts and splatter are issues. If you want to weld thinner stuff, like 1/8", you will pull your hair out trying to get the MIG process to give satisfactory results. This may not be true for all alloys, but it is true for 6061 and 6063.

TIG is the way to go for aluminum. No post weld clean up and there are no issues with cold start.

Scott

 

[Fast Orange]

I'm going to echo what Scott just said.Aluminum thinner than 1/8 is almost impossible for me to MIG with my Lincoln 250.On thicker material,the welds come out beautiful.
TIG is the way to go on the thin stuff.

George

 

[Brian]

Thanks for your responses guys. Sounds like it should work out. I have an OA torch outfit so I can preheat if i need to.
Guess I will talk to Santa about a spool gun. Or maybe I should just hold out for what I really want. A bigger MIG or even a TIG machine.