[Shop-talk] MIG welding Aluminum

[Jack Brooks]

Bob,

1. The Handler 140 (I own a 135) may be underpowered, depending on the
thickness of the aluminum sheet.  See your manual about it.  The reason is
that Aluminum will transfer the heat away from the work area quickly,
requiring more power to complete a similar weld.  The Handler may not cut it
if the fenders have some thickness to them.

I attached a copy of my manual and a few other Mig tips.  The manual shows
using a lot of power to weld aluminum sheet.  If you do proceed, and I would
give it a try, put a box fan blowing on the welder to keep it cooler and
extend the duty cycle.  I've done this when I've welded heavy steel with
multiple stitched passes and never overheated (tripped out on temperature). 

2. Your current regulator is fine.

3. What I have read, since I have not personally welded Aluminum, is that
the technique is slightly different, but sufficiently similar that it should
be something you can handle, if you are comfortable with steel. 

Jack

-----Original Message-----
From: shop-talk-bounces+jibjib=att.net at autox.team.net
[mailto:shop-talk-bounces+jibjib=att.net at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of
nogera2 at att.net
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 9:27 PM
To: Shop Talk
Subject: [Shop-talk] MIG welding Aluminum

My current project is restoring some aluminum fenders.  They have some
cracks and small areas that will need to be welded.
I have a MIG welder ( Hobart 140) with  a CO2 tank.
I know that to weld aluminum I will need to get a Argon tank and aluminum
wire.

My questions:

   1. Will I have to get another regulator to go with the Argon tank or will
the CO2 regulator work?
   2. I've gotten pretty good welding steel sheet metal with my MIG, is
there a whole new learning curve learning to Mig weld Aluminum?
   3. Should I just surrender and farm the job out to a welder?

Thanks

Bob Nogueira
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[demime 1.01d removed an attachment of type application/pdf which had a name of Handler 135 Manual - o944g_hob.pdf]

[demime 1.01d removed an attachment of type application/pdf which had a name of Alum_MIG_Welding_Tips.pdf]

[demime 1.01d removed an attachment of type application/pdf which had a name of mig_handbook.pdf]