Welding Aluminum?

[kfriend]

Gentlemen,

Just wondering if welding aluminum is pretty much the same as welding other metals (process wise). I know you have to be setup for the right kind of wire and gas etc. but when you are ready to squeeze the trigger, it's the same right?

btw-sorry for my absence, was away for a couple of weeks getting edumacated in microsoft products/certification.

[Hobart Expert Mike]

Nope!!

When mig welding aluminum, you need to get into a spray mode. Tip to work distance = aproximately 1/2" to 3/4". Always push when mig welding aluminum. It is for flat or horizantal welding.

Now the big problem is feeding that soft aluminum wire through a mig gun. It's kind of like pushing a cooked noodle through a straw. It can be done, and some people are quite good at it. Not me though. Now with a spoolgun it makes feeding the wire easy.

Mike

[Hobart Expert Steve]

kfriend;

To add to Mike's comments if you would go to the Miller website wwwmillerwelds.com and under the education section go to the welding library and look under the welding articles. The application would be aluminum and the process would be mig welding. These tips are very helpful for welding aluminum.

Steve