MIG welding and advice

[Walter Deitzler]

Originally Posted by DonRotolo

If welding steel is like stitches, welding aluminum is like brain surgery. It is challenging, and you absolutely must have competent instruction.

You cannot weld indoors without full and complete vetilation. "open a window" will not cut it. The room also needs to be essentially fireproof - sheetrock is not fireproof.

If you ever weld steel with that welder, it is useless for aluminum. If you dedicate it to 100% aluminum, and use the right supplies, then MIG welding (really, GMAW*) will work well for aluminum.

100% argon is not much different in cost from any welding gas. You will find that it is not a great expense, even if you rent the tank (common) and the regulator (usually you buy one), the cost of the gas is comparable to a nice dinner for four.

So, your next steps:
1. Can you really keep it?
2. Get someone who is an expert aluminum welder (not a steel guy who has done some aluminum. Trust me here) and have them help you...
3....find a good aluminum welding wire, and...
4. A source of gas, and....
5..Invest in a set of "aluminum only" tools (your welder will explain)
6. And personal protective equipment (mask, gloves, apron, etc)
7. Then find a location approved by the fire marshal (in most states you require a fire dept. permit to do indoor welding)
8. and practice, practice, practice. Then go and practice more. After 100+ feet of welding bead, you'll be passable.

This is NOT a lot of money, but step 2 for advice and instruction is critical...

Don

*Gas Metal Arc Welding
**Disclaimer: I know a lot about aluminum welding, maybe too much, but my eye-hand coordination stinks.

1. I think we can keep it, mostly due to the fact that the only keys to the room that was in are in possession of our captains, our coach, and our teacher sponsor (who expressed interest in giving us a MIG welder).

2. We can do this. The guy who welded our aluminum robot last season ( http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...light=Serenity) was a professor at the local Tech College, and is very good at his job. He can teach us.

3. What is an example of good aluminum welding wire?

4. We should be able to find some thanks to Justin

5. I will ask him tomorrow

6. We can get those

7. We might have an area in our school's wood shop (away from all of the wood) that would allow us to have ventilation and a curtain, and be fire-safe, we would check with this to be certain (to make sure it is no going to mix with the wood).

8. Sounds like a plan.

Thank you so much!