I need to learn how to weld Aluminum.

[sleeper]

I saw a guy on YouTube brazing aluminum with an Oxy/Acetylene set and some Alumiweld Rod from Harbor Freight and to me it looked like the perfect solution for a guy who doesn’t have a TIG welder available. I don’t know how strong it actually is, but I have stuff at home that needs repaired all the time and when it comes to Aluminum, I’m just out of luck, so I think I’m going to buy some of this stuff and check it out.

Once I broke an aluminum tool and I took it to a welding shop to repair and the guy said it cost $100 just to warm up his TIG welder. Well the tool only cost $60 at the time and I don’t know if the guy was lying to me or not so I just bought a new tool.

Anyway, I’m doing some resource now to see how much it will cost me to buy a small TIG Welder to use at home. I have no idea what I need, but I’m on a limited budget because it will just be for my own use and I don't know how much I will actually using it. However if it were to have a good resale value in case i ever have to sell it, I wouldn't mind paying a little more. I just have so many tools that I paid a lot of money for that aren't worth much now.

Years ago I bought a bottle of argon gas and a roll of .035” 4043 alloy aluminum wire for my Lincoln Pro Mig135 as discussed (here), but I could not find the required #K663-2 Aluminum Feed Kit, so I never did get it working.

Any guidance will be appreciated.

[Broccoli1]

http://www.google.com/search?client=...UTF-8&oe=UTF-8



Going the Tig route just isn't cheap- even a "Cheap" import will set you back almost a grand, coul be more with shipping the machine back and forth for warranty :0

Or look for a used machine on CL Sych 250 or a Lincoln

If you'll only be doing thin gauge you could get away with a Diversion 165 or 180

Where abouts in the High Desert are you?

[sleeper]

Originally Posted by Broccoli1

http://www.google.com/search?client=...UTF-8&oe=UTF-8



Going the Tig route just isn't cheap- even a "Cheap" import will set you back almost a grand, coul be more with shipping the machine back and forth for warranty :0

Or look for a used machine on CL Sych 250 or a Lincoln

If you'll only be doing thin gauge you could get away with a Diversion 165 or 180

Where abouts in the High Desert are you?

Thanks, I’m in Antelope Valley. Do you think if I found the Lincoln Aluminum Feed Kit, that it would be worthwhile to use it instead of buying a Tig? I just did a search and found one on eBay for $70.

[Broccoli1]

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/tls/3069922233.html

probably need 100amp Input though

[Broccoli1]

Originally Posted by sleeper

Thanks, I’m in Antelope Valley. Do you think if I found the Lincoln Aluminum Feed Kit, that it would be worthwhile to use it instead of buying a Tig? I just did a search and found one on eBay for $70.

Not really- the 120v machines just don't have enough power for Aluminum and you have to keep the Gun really really straight since the Wire is so soft.

You might get OK results but w/o a spoolgun it is just a PIA. But again, even if you had a spoolgun the 135 just doesn't have enough power for working anything above 16g and anything thinner is just down right HARD with any MIG machine

( yeah you could use a MM350p with pulse

[sleeper]

Originally Posted by Broccoli1

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/tls/3069922233.html

probably need 100amp Input though

Wow, now that’s interesting, but what do you mean by 100Amp input? That would be my whole house.

[sleeper]

Originally Posted by Broccoli1

Not really- the 120v machines just don't have enough power for Aluminum and you have to keep the Gun really really straight since the Wire is so soft.

You might get OK results but w/o a spoolgun it is just a PIA. But again, even if you had a spoolgun the 135 just doesn't have enough power for working anything above 16g and anything thinner is just down right HARD with any MIG machine

( yeah you could use a MM350p with pulse

I wish now that I would have gone with the 220 volt model, but at the time I already had two 220 volt stick welders and I needed something to weld steel tubing. I had been in a muffler shop prior to the purchase and they had 6 of these welders doing tail pipes so I figured it would be OK.

[sleeper]

I spent a lot of time looking for a small TIG to use at home and I’m exhausted, so I’m no longer going that route. I guess I’m stuck with the Alumiweld Rod from Harbor Freight unless there is another way besides a TIG or a spool gun.

[soutthpaw]

stick welding with aluminum rod is also an option, Rick V did a whole bunch of stuff on a couple thread about them. I don't know if he has tried again since competing his Stick welding class now he can get a decent bead down. i tried them too but unless its thick aluminum you are welding and you can stick weld decently, don't bother. A hot start stick welder really helps with those rods too.

[sleeper]

Originally Posted by soutthpaw

stick welding with aluminum rod is also an option, Rick V did a whole bunch of stuff on a couple thread about them. I don't know if he has tried again since competing his Stick welding class now he can get a decent bead down. i tried them too but unless its thick aluminum you are welding and you can stick weld decently, don't bother. A hot start stick welder really helps with those rods too.

Thanks, when you say “stick welding with aluminum rod”, do mean with something like HTS 2000? I just watched a video on it and I have to say it was quite impressive.

You Tube

You Tube

Here is one for Durafix Aluminum Welding Rods

You Tube

You Tube

[sleeper]

Originally Posted by soutthpaw

stick welding with aluminum rod is also an option, Rick V did a whole bunch of stuff on a couple thread about them. ...

OK, now I know what you mean by “stick welding with aluminum rod”

You Tube

You Tube

I don’t have a DC welder so it doesn’t look like I’ll be able to do this. I do know how to braze after 25 years of refrigeration repair and I’m pretty good at it. So I think the HTS 2000 or the Durafix might be best for me.

[LayoutMan]

This rod welding aluminum video is really funny, welding aluminum with stick is not the best thing in the world, but look at the hand movement the guy does during welding, wtf??

[soutthpaw]

See Rick V threads here
http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php...light=aluminum
http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php...light=aluminum
Do us a favor and don't bring them back to life by posting in them... heh..

Also all of Rick's welds in those threads were done prior to his class http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php...=welding+class

[sleeper]

Originally Posted by LayoutMan

This rod welding aluminum video is really funny, welding aluminum with stick is not the best thing in the world, but look at the hand movement the guy does during welding, wtf??

LOL, I thought it was a joke when I saw the script, but then after he said he wasn’t a welder and his crackerbox welder only cost $65, I was interested. I looked it up on eBay and I would have bought some if it didn’t say DC only.

[soutthpaw]

Originally Posted by LayoutMan

This rod welding aluminum video is really funny, welding aluminum with stick is not the best thing in the world, but look at the hand movement the guy does during welding, wtf??

Nothing like cleaning the work piece beforehand. No welding gloves either, I think its one of Danny's cousins. I have no idea about those Durafix rods, probably some brazing aluminum alloy or solder blend or something. Again its an option as long as no critical welds and nothing that is going to go on the highway etc...

[Rick V]

Your better options might just be aluminum brazing. Here's a thread on various means of brazing aluminum. http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?t=46803

[soutthpaw]

Here ya go, http://durafix.com/ and only $45/lb ... I nominate Rick to buy some and test them out for us. they have to be some kind of Solder as they melt at 732*F

[Rick V]

Those low temp aluminum rods are mostly zinc... I covered most all that in my referenced thread http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?t=46803

[sleeper]

Originally Posted by Rick V

Those low temp aluminum rods are mostly zinc... I covered most all that in my referenced thread http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?t=46803

Thanks Rick, I just wish I would have known of them years ago.