welding aluminum with handler 135

[wcoupe]

Ive been using my handler 135 for a while now, and I was wondering what is involved in converting it to weld aluminum. Im presently using 030 steel wire. Ive had different answers to this question from needing to only change to an 030 aluminum wire to needing to change my liner and other parts. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Hobart Expert Rock]

WCOUPE..............MAN YOUR GOING TO HAVE SOME FUN NOW... I HOPE YOU'VE WELDED ALUMINUM BEFORE..............ANY WAY ARGON GAS, TEFLON LINER FOR THE GUN, 1 SIZE TIP BIGGER THAN THE WIRE, KEEP THE GUN AS STRAIGHT AS POSSABLE, TRAVEL 1/4 TO 1/3 FASTER THAN YOU NORMALLY TRAVEL............... AND PRACTICE FIRST....... .............BELIEVE ME YOUR GOING TO WASTE SOME ALUMINUM BEFORE YOU GET THE HANG OF IT....IT REQUIRES A NACK...............BY THAT I MEAN YOUR GOING TO PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE TO GET GOOD AT IT...........ROCK[email protected]

[morpheus]

hey Rock, how thick of aluminum would he be able to weld with a 135 ?

- jack

[Hobart Expert Rock]

morpheous.............CHART SAY 1/16 OF 5356.....BUT WE KNOW THAT YOU CAN DO A ROOT PAS ON A V THEN DO COVER PASSES OVER THAT................SO THICKNESS IS KINDA IRRELIVANT....ROCK[email protected]

[smells fishy]

spool gun?

Is there a spool gun for the Handler 135 for welding AL?
And what about price?

[Dan]

Re: spool gun?

Originally posted by smells fishy
Is there a spool gun for the Handler 135 for welding AL?
And what about price?

Yes, there is a spoolgun available that can be used with the HH 135. it also requires a control module. The problem though is the price it will cost you more than a HH 135. The spoolgun is around $420 and the SGA 100 control module is about $200. This is why most people who weld aluminum with the HH 135 just use the standard set up.

[smells fishy]

OUCH!!!!

That is quite expensive.......I would like to start welding AL tubing for marine use without alot of money (TIG welder). Maybe I will try the roll of AL wire and see how it works before I try to spend all the money on a tig welder.

Thanks for the info....

[Scott V]

After,you weld up some aluminum with that setup you will know why they made ac tig tig machines.It will be ok,maybe for a very limited type of welding.If you are only into it a roll of wire,it is worth trying,but that's about all I would spend.After you do some,you will see for yourself.