beer cans

[harold]

Has anyone succesfully welded aluminum cans ? I have a SD180 to use but so far I havn't been able to even come close; every attempt is a disaster. At the welding school they talked about a good welder being able to do it but no one steped up to demonstrate. They also mentioned welding razor blades but that I have not tried. Can it be done or is this just so much hype.
Thanks

[Henro]

Harold,

I have wondered about that too...

Can't provide an answer, but my guess is that those beer cans are pretty thinn, maybe less than .005 of an inch. Using the 1 amp per .001 inch rule, that would mean you need to be able to go down to 5 amps...or less?

Maybe your welder can't go that low...

If I did not crush the cans after I open them I would try to mic one and see how thick they are...maybe someone else already knows. Perhaps I should open a beer now just out of intelectual curiosity...ha ha...

Can't wait to hear the answer from those that know. Maybe we can ask for a picture or two also?

Still up in the air as to which welder to buy as my first...

[Dan]

Bill

Get the MM210

[ZACHV]

Check here for good pics

[Henro]

Beer can wall thickness...

Well I found a an empty Yuengling can...

Looks like the wall thickness is about 0.0045 measured with a Starrett 1 inch mic. Measurement was of a slice taken from the side of the can, cut out with scissors and flattened as best as possible with my fingers.

Dan...I think the MM210 is second on my list...as I got this idea I want to buy a TIG/Stick combo first, then a MIG...Appreciate the pointer at the MM210...also remember your other posts mentioning it as a good unit!

If I don't hurry up and buy SOMETHING soon I'll be an old man before I strike an arc at home! Wonder at what age "old" starts?

[Henro]

ZACHV,

Guess that link answers Harold's question! Interesting photos...

The can bottoms are thicker, as the poster there stated. I checked and found the same thickness in that can I measured, about 0.014 in the bottom.

Thanks for posting that link! Interesting to say the least...

[Scott V]

Try electrode positive.

[deere_x475guy]

Qustion for Dan

Originally posted by Dan
Bill

Get the MM210

Dan do you use that spool gun much? Is it a reasonable way for me to get into welding aluminum?

Bob

[Roger]

Use pulser or is that cheating?

[Hobart Expert]

Beer cans

Harold,
I personnally have seen cans welded together end to end with the Syncrowave 180SD twice. I was working a demo booth and a customer who was obviously a very good TIG welder welded two cans together. After he left one of guys working the booth with me decided he had to try it too. He is very good TIG welder and was able to do it also. Keep practicing and good luck.

Kevin

[email protected]

[Scott V]

Aaron,Thats what I meant,but with your machine just back off the wave balance the other way.Also try more freq.Your machine will do it easier than most machines,so practice.I have got down to a perfect bead on a fillet joint with 4043,and 3/64 aluminum wire on some .035 aluminum with my powermig.Dan try that with a Miller 210.

[Dan]

Re: Qustion for Dan

Originally posted by deere_x475guy


Dan do you use that spool gun much? Is it a reasonable way for me to get into welding aluminum?

Bob

Bob the only thing that I really do with the spool gun at this point is just run practice welds on scrap aluminum.So far anything under 3/16" is quite difficult. I really don t have any projects in mind that requires aluminum. The only reason that I have the spool gun is because it came free with the MM 210 when I bought it. So, since I have it, I figure I might as well use it. You never know I might end up working somewhere that requires me to MIG weld aluminum. My personal prefer for aluminum is still TIG.So, I probably wouldn t spend the $400 plus on spoolgun, but Bob You should really try it out for yourself. Also, try a TIG on aluminum too so this way you know which process you like better. Maybe Miller will have a spoolgun available at the AWS show. They definately should have a TIG machine.

[Dan]

Originally posted by Scott V
Aaron,Thats what I meant,but with your machine just back off the wave balance the other way.Also try more freq.Your machine will do it easier than most machines,so practice.I have got down to a perfect bead on a fillet joint with 4043,and 3/64 aluminum wire on some .035 aluminum with my powermig.Dan try that with a Miller 210.

Hey Scott what diameter size of a hole do you need in that .035 aluminum?

[Scott V]

Dan,no holes or any back up of any kind.I went,and showed my friend at his sheetmetal shop,and he was impressed.His shop is filled with Miller welders,like a 350 dx,they also had a aerowave awhile back too.A shopmaster,MM 250,MM vintage,MM 200,All sorts Maxstars laying around.A couple of old Airco pulse units,and a whole bunch of others.If they get this one job,I am bringing my Powermig over for them to use.I am having Marty post some of his work over at the chaski site pretty soon,and you will see how picky this guy is.

[Dan]

Scott

I was referring to using my MM 210 for that thin of aluminum. So I ask you again what diameters of holes do you need in the .035 aluminum?