Mig Welding Aluminum Settings

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.

Mig welding aluminum settings.

In most cases it will take 21 to 23 volts to get the arc to spray transfer. 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. 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.

Unlike welding with a stick welder mig welding is a semi automatic process. Mig welders such as the millermatic 211 and millermatic 141 are ideal for the occasional welder. Mig welding aluminum requires techniques and welder settings that will compensate for the material s susceptibility to many deformities such as weld cracking. 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.

The settings needed to mig weld aluminum are pretty much the same for all positions. Mig welder settings can vary substantially from model to model and certainly from brand to brand. In most cases it will take 21 23 volts to get the arc to spray transfer. Aluminum should be thoroughly cleaned prior to welding including the removal of any lubricants from the material.

If you re looking for a machine with multiple welding capabilities we recommend multiprocess welders like the multimatic 215 and multimatic 220 ac dc. 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. There are several aluminum mig welding techniques that work ok but the one used in the video is just a slow steady motion. However that s pretty much where the similarities end.

Keep it clean. Good equipment makes mig welding easier while poor equipment can cost you dearly in frustration and weld quality. To mig weld aluminum thinner than 14 gauge 074 inch it may be necessary to use specialized pulsed mig or ac tig welding equipment. Aluminum requires the wire feed.

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. This article is more a general guideline to help the novice welder understand how the various settings will affect your results. 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.