I am familur with welding steel. I have a stick arc welder and a gas-less wire feed flux core welder. Is there a way to weld aluminum with these two types of welders or do I need to get another type? Thanks.
Welding question
- Thread starter cobrafreak
- Start date
I have no welding experience. Most production aluminum bike frames are TIG welded - whatever that means.
You will have to look for another method. I am using a tig welder to steel, alum and stainless. I really like working with alum as it's easy to cut and fab parts up.
What are you trying to weld?
What are you trying to weld?
Welding aluminum takes patience to learn then you have to stay proficient at it. You don't have the right equipment either. You'll need a gas TIG or MIG machine running straight Argon and reverse polarity. And, a lot of practice. Once mastered it's satisfying to be able to run a bead with aluminum but it takes some effort to get there and you have to do it regularly or you'll loose the technique. I've watched people do it with oxy/act but that's even harder than electric welding. Good luck.
Tom
Tom
you can arcweld aluminum IF you have a DC capable welder and what your welding is 3/16 thick or bigger. The welds will not look anywhere near what a decently good weldor with a tig machine can do. You can also use a good set of A/O torch but ya better be really good at gas welding and not brazing. Gas mig WITH a spoolgun can be used but the welds are crummy looking tig is the best option
TIG= tungsten inert gas. There is an arc between the tungsten and the workpiece. You dab the aluminum filler rod in and out of the arc as you weld. That's why a good aluminum weld has an even, rippled look.
Last edited:
I acquired an aluminum cruiser and had some ideas for new projects. It would be great if I had the option of welding steel or aluminum. Looks like I need to get a third welder
I´m got some inputs on other ways.....but havent tested it yet by my self, and ain´t shure this could be used on bicycle fabbin´.....
Using a torch to melt/weld zinc to make joints. Its said its great on thinner material to make a joint, when done right the alu breaks outside of the "weld" on bending test.....
And zinc is easy available & cheap f.ex. as corrosion anodes on boats...
planned to try it on a 50s sunvisor who got som breaks, but havent got time and schedule for it yet.
Using a torch to melt/weld zinc to make joints. Its said its great on thinner material to make a joint, when done right the alu breaks outside of the "weld" on bending test.....
And zinc is easy available & cheap f.ex. as corrosion anodes on boats...
planned to try it on a 50s sunvisor who got som breaks, but havent got time and schedule for it yet.
you can use a mig ( with a good spool attachment )
Don,t even bother trying the aluminum wire thru the mig itself .
Its supposed to work ... but doesn't , and the aluminum wire is soft and flimsy ... it will bunch up on the roller inside the mig ... if it melts inside the wire feed line .. good luck getting it out .
Don,t even bother trying the aluminum wire thru the mig itself .
Its supposed to work ... but doesn't , and the aluminum wire is soft and flimsy ... it will bunch up on the roller inside the mig ... if it melts inside the wire feed line .. good luck getting it out .
been bouncing this off of randy @ durafix and he even says...
"As I said before, I would just buy a wire welder for this application. Durafix is a great product, but it is not suitable for this kind of job"
does that answer your question?
Bottom line is you are going to need a tig machine to complete what you are trying to do. The right way... Lol A co worker was selling a older never used econo tig miller with all the extras for 1100.00
that was a good deal
that was a good deal
A MIG (wire feed) machine will require a teflon liner to allow the aluminum to slide easily. Trying to use a steel spiral liner will assure that there will be binding.
You''l also have to use reverse polarity and only Argon gas, not a C-25 mix when running aluminum wire. Most cheap-o, department store, discount tool places, MIGs will not have these features.
Tom