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I got a thick aluminum job in the shop and also got a new Lincoln Powermig 350mp with push pull gun.
Pretty freaking awesome.
I wish I had the time to really tweak the setting before tackling this job with a new setup like this but this part needs to get done asap.
Deadlines.. deadlines… blah… blah.
I did try out just a few settings and wound up using around 600 ipm of wire speed and that was because all I had was .035″ (.9mm) wire.
A thick job like would go better with thicker wire and that brings me to some tips for mig welding aluminum
- Use as large a diameter wire as you can. It feeds better.
- Push, don’t pull. There are always exceptions, but a push angle works better and allows for better cleaning action and less soot.
- Too much argon flow wastes argon and can actually cause an erratic arc.
- Clean any debris like oil or grease with a solvent like acetone, toluene, or alcohol before welding.
- There are also liquid aluminum cleaners available that etch the surface, but a thorough rinse and preheat to remove moisture are needed.
There is one main tip I was reminded of on this project:
When you are welding a flange or base plate, and you have more than one to do, clamping them together back to back helps. Stresses oppose and it’s easier to get a flat base plate.
I even had to heat the part to 350f with a rosebud in order to get it to relax… but it worked.
Oh, and by the way…
If you missed last week’s video, click here to check it out.
( As always, feel free to visit us at our sister site, WeldingTipsAndTricks.com. )
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March 29, 2013 at 6:27 AM
Frigging Awesome Bro……….!!!!!!
March 28, 2013 at 11:54 AM
Interested to know what filler you used, from the amount of smut I think 5356?
I have the same machine with push pull gun and on a good day can run .030 4043, but all the stars must be aligned. Thanks for all the good videos, I always pick up some good info!
March 28, 2013 at 8:35 AM
Thanks again for excellent information. Especially the back to back tack-up. I will definitely give this a try on the next job. Please keep the fantastic videos coming.
March 28, 2013 at 5:35 AM
Great job on this. You are one metal wise son of a gun!
March 27, 2013 at 10:29 PM
Your the man. Im at a loss for words. 2 thumbs up!!!