Can i weld aluminum with my mig welder

The reason is that the start of the weld is when the material coldest and therefore draws the most heat away from the weld pool. Experiment with turning up the output if using synergic mode, dial up to a higher mm thickness setting than what you are actually welding , or if in manual mode, increase the voltage. The challenge here is that the perfect setting for starting the weld may then be too hot for the remainder of the weld.

But with standard MIG machines, you will either need to find the best compromise setting, or run short stitch welds to allow a higher start current. Inductance Control: In some respects, inductance is like adjusting the nozzle on a garden hose. Note: Some machines may not have inductance control, especially lower cost units. This can cause an uneven and poor start to the weld using the voltage and wire feed speed selected as optimal once the arc is established.

Soft-Start setting slows the wire speed down at the start of the weld which can improves the weld starting performance. Note: Some machines may not have soft-start adjustment, especially lower cost units. Wire feed trouble-shooting guide. View Products. Plasma Cutters. Gas Cutting Machines. Machine Spare Parts. MIG Binzel Style. MIG Tweco Style.

MIG Bernard Style. MIG Spool Gun. MIG Other. MIG Wire - Steel. Gasless Wire. MIG Wire - Stainless. MIG Wire - Aluminium. Cored Wire. Hardfacing Wire. Electrodes - Steel. Electrodes - Stainless. Electrodes - Hardfacing. Electrodes - Special. Gouging Carbons. Filler Rods. Brazing Rods. Earth Clamps. Electrode Holders. Cable Fittings. Welders Tools. Pipe Equipment. Electrode Ovens. Welding Helmets. Good Luck, post a reply letting me know how you got on!

Cheers Graham. Hi Vinayak I would suggest a 1. You would need to speak to ESAB for anything more specific as we are not familier with the details of their Mig Welders. Regards Graham. Your email address will not be published. Oversized Mig Tip Because Aluminium has binding properties, it may jam in a regular tip, especially when the tip gets hot. Wire Feed Speed This will be determined by the job.

Getting Started — Patience Patience Patience Make sure metal you intend welding is clean, running a sanding disc over the area to be welded can also help if the aluminium is old as this will reduce the effects of surface oxide.

I hope you found this useful, if things work out well for you, please feel free to post some pictures of your achievements on our Facebook Page Please let me know what you thought of this article by leaving a comment. Cheers Graham The Welders Warehouse. Foz says:. September 9, at PM. Welding is the process of bonding metal together with heat applied at a temperature high enough to melt and fuse the metal.

Since aluminum is thinner than stainless steel and, therefore, more likely to burn a hole through , the process must be done carefully and slowly.

Here , you can find an more in-depth article from our website about how to weld Aluminum. Aluminum is going to be a thinner metal than the steel typically used in MIG. Especially when first learning how to MIG weld aluminum. Having some work pieces to practice on is going to make this process way more laid-back.

And what this means is the speed in which you move the arc along the metal. Yes, it matters. A lot. With aluminum, its much easier for burn through, so you want to move quicker. With aluminum, your puddle will be different and represent wet foil. It takes a little more of a keen eye and concentration to focus on your weld puddle when working with aluminum.

A MIG welding job requires a specific wire for either steel or aluminum. The wire used for aluminum is going to be softer because aluminum is a softer metal, to begin with. It can easily get bunched up, causing some frustration. But there is a solution, a spool gun. Using a special spool gun to feed the wire straight through the gun into the arc will make things much easier. Always be sure to also prepare your equipment properly. Welding is skill that requires a lot of safety and proper use of dangerous equipment.

Always set yourself up for success by checking these items off your list before beginning:. MIG welders will also have the responsibility of making sure they set themselves up for safety and effective welding.