Mig Welding Aluminum Settings

To be able to successfully mig weld aluminum you must use techniques and set up strategies that will be described in full detail in this guide.

Mig welding aluminum settings. Aluminum should be thoroughly cleaned prior to welding including the removal of any lubricants from the material. Aluminum requires the wire feed. Aluminum mig welding settings. Mig welder settings can vary substantially from model to model and certainly from brand to brand.

If you haven t yet mastered mig welding mild steel then you probably need to do that before you start aluminum welding with the gmaw mig process. To start the pictures above and below are the manufacturer s recommended lincoln welders and miller welding equipment voltage wire feed speed settings and gas recommendations. Keep it clean. Good equipment makes mig welding easier while poor equipment can cost you dearly in frustration and weld quality.

If welding out of position you will want the wire feed speed fast enough to keep the weld full of metal at a fast crackle. Stainless and aluminum lincoln mig welding electrode and gas selection chart settings. Here s why when mig welding aluminum you use the same gun angle and gas flow rate 20 30 cfh. Mig welding charts setting guides and exact answers.

If welding out of position you will want the wire feed speed fast enough to keep the weld full of metal at a fast crackle. If you re looking for a machine with multiple welding capabilities we recommend multiprocess welders like the multimatic 215 and multimatic 220 ac dc. This article is more a general guideline to help the novice welder understand how the various settings will affect your results. Mig welders such as the millermatic 211 and millermatic 141 are ideal for the occasional welder.

The settings needed to mig weld aluminum are pretty much the same for all positions. In most cases it will take 21 to 23 volts to get the arc to spray transfer. In most cases it will take 21 23 volts to get the arc to spray transfer. For 1 8 thick aluminum unless you have the machine set just right the slow steady bead just builds up too much heat because by the time you reach the edge of the metal its really too hot and leaves a huge crater.

Unlike welding with a stick welder mig welding is a semi automatic process. However that s pretty much where the similarities end. Mig welding aluminum requires techniques and welder settings that will compensate for the material s susceptibility to many deformities such as weld cracking.