Has anyone had any success with MIG welding aluminium? I've TIGged aluminium one time but I don't have my own TIG gear. I've only got a small amount of easy welds to do. Anyone got any tips other than obviously using the right wire and gas? I can weld steel OK, it's just aluminium-specific tips I'm after. If MIG is a waste of time on aluminium I'll have to borrow the TIG gear and use that. Any advice appreciated.
Its supposedly possible to get good results, however you need the surfaces to be very fresh - ie wire brushed moments before you weld, and you will need a pretty hefty current, given that ally is such a good heatsink. I wish someone would find a way of making TIG gear cheaper [:^(]
You'll have to use an argon mix or straight argon from what I remember, but the results with a cheap mig on alloy aren't always great. Worth a go though
As far as I understand straight argon is the best shielding gas for MIGing aluminium. Found some useful info here: link Andy, it's an easy job but one that I might have to do every now and again (repairing and bracing the subframe on my motocross bike). If I could MIG it it'd be better than having to borrow TIG gear now and then. For a few quid of aluminium wire it's worth a go. John, I know what you mean. TIG's great but unless Machine Mart have got 90% off this week it's well out of my price range!
