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Re: [Shop-talk] MIG welding Aluminum

To: shop-talk@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Shop-talk] MIG welding Aluminum
From: Mark Andy <mark@sccaprepared.com>
Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:00:40 -0400 (EDT)
Howdy,

I'm also in the situation where I'd like to be able to do a little AL 
welding and only have a suitcase MIG.

In my case, its a Lincoln SP-175Plus...

Since my other option is a $2k+ TIG machine, I'm ok with spending a little 
money to be able to weld AL... Most of the stuff I want to do is things 
like 1/8" sheet for trailer cabinets & the like.

Any advice on how to approach it?  Lincoln has an AL kit for my welder:
http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Catalog/equipmentdatasheet.aspx?p=2131

Unfortunately, it looks like the 100SG spool gun doesn't work with my 
welder, at least according to this guy:
http://www.rittercnc.com/welding/Lincoln-Magnum-100SG-and-SP-175-Plus-541-.htm

The Lincoln site also doesn't list it as a recommended power source.

I don't mind if I need to be careful about kinks in the gun cable or a 
shorter gun cable (can I even get such a thing?) or whatever if I can get 
reliable/consistent operation once I learn what it needs.  But I also 
don't want to go this route if I'll be needing to stop every other 2" bead 
to untangle the feed wire either.

Thanks for any advice!

Mark

On Wed, 24 Sep 2008, Arvid Jedlicka wrote:

> John brings up a very good point. Normally aluminum wire is run from
> a spool gun or a push pull gun. You can run aluminum thru a push gun
> if (a) you are lucky, (b) the gun cable is short - 10 feet of less, (c) you
> have a teflon liner, (d) you are using 3/64 or larger wire, (e) you have
> the correct feed rollers for aluminum and (f) 5356 or other suitably stiff
> aluminum wire.
>
> Note that I am not saying you can not push aluminum without (a) thru
> (f) but the less of (b) thru (f) you have the more (a) you will need. I get
> away without (b) and run it thru a 15 foot cable, but I am very careful
> to make sure it is as straight as possible and I have (c) thru (f) in place
> and it appears as though I also have some (a).
>
> Otherwise you will discover what the term "birds nest" means.
>
> From: "John T. Blair" <jblair1948@cox.net>
>
>> and possibly a new liner for you
>> gun depending on the size of the Al. wire you use.
>
> Arvid
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