Aluminum Welding

**TXTrailerdaddy** · 09-27-2006, 02:39 PM

I have a MM210. I have never used it for anything but steel. However, I let the cows into our yard last week, since the grass is getting so scarce in these parts, and they repayed my generousity by breaking my patio table legs off. My choices would be taking the table to a welding shop and have them fix it, or for me to fix it. Question is, since I have never welded aluminum, what would I need to make this happen? FYI, I am running .030 and CO2/Argon mix which I know I need to change for the aluminum, just need to know what to change to. I only have this and maybe a few other aluminum things to fix, but not much other than that. Thanks! TXT

**joebass** · 09-27-2006, 04:10 PM

Cast? How thick? Might be bettre off taking it to a shop.

**coalsmoke** · 09-27-2006, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by joebass

Cast? How thick? Might be bettre off taking it to a shop.

I agree.

However, if you want to get into aluminum welding, look into a spoolgun for that mm210

**MXtras** · 09-27-2006, 04:23 PM

My advice is to take it to the shop. You will spend a LOT of time and cash learning (wire, gas, tips, more tips...) - especially with Mig.

Scott

**TXTrailerdaddy** · 09-28-2006, 04:51 PM

ok.... Why is Aluminum so much different than steel? Wouldn't the principles be the same? TXT

**acmemetalfab** · 09-28-2006, 05:33 PM

Cast anything is a pain in the *****; iron, steel, aluminum, it's all a pain in the *****. Every time you weld a few centimeters you have to stop and beat the ever living crap out of the thing with a hammer or you'll get pinholes. Also, the weld will no doubt contain inclusions. The extra control of a TIG machine would help, but it's still a pain in the ***. With MIG it might be close to impossible to get a good weld. I have a fair amount of cast experience now and I wouldn't try it.

**JD in SoCal** · 09-28-2006, 05:59 PM

Originally Posted by MXtras

My advice is to take it to the shop. You will spend a LOT of time and cash learning (wire, gas, tips, more tips...) - especially with Mig.

Scott

I second that motion.

Only do it yourself if you want to add aluminum capability anyway. It will cost you 10 times as much to do it yourself as it would to have a shop weld it. You will also get a bigger headache if you do it yourself.

JD

**JD in SoCal** · 09-28-2006, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by TXTrailerdaddy

ok.... Why is Aluminum so much different than steel? Wouldn't the principles be the same? TXT

The principles are the same but the metal acts differently, and the process is more demanding. Ignoring the extras challenges of cast (which can be plenty), aluminum is quite a bit trickier to weld than steel, regardless of process. If you have some time on your hands, do a search under "aluminum" on this site, and you can read for hours on the good and bad of welding aluminum.

Good luck.

JD

**aametalmaster** · 09-28-2006, 07:19 PM

I love welding cast alum, been doing it for 30 years with stick then mig. It is so easy to fix and work with plus if it was broke when it was brought to you just figure it was junk when you started and you are making it all better

...Bob

**JD in SoCal** · 09-28-2006, 07:56 PM

Originally Posted by aametalmaster

I love welding cast alum, been doing it for 30 years with stick then mig. It is so easy to fix and work with...

...Bob

Yeah, but the rest of us don't have "metal master" in our names...

JD

**JD in SoCal** · 09-28-2006, 08:06 PM

Originally Posted by TXTrailerdaddy

... I let the cows into our yard last week, since the grass is getting so scarce in these parts, and they repayed my generousity by breaking my patio table legs off... TXT

I hate it when those **** cows won't stay out of the yard.

JD

**TXTrailerdaddy** · 09-28-2006, 08:18 PM

Tell me about it... I let them in so they would have some nice grass to eat and they break my table. You'd think they were raised in a barn or something. TXT

**coalsmoke** · 09-28-2006, 10:30 PM

Let's not forget that success is related to what type of cast it is. I have best luck on cast aluminum with cast auto parts. There are write-ups about the different cast aluminum alloys, why they contain what, and what you can do with each alloy.

**tomtri** · 09-29-2006, 02:29 AM

Originally Posted by TXTrailerdaddy

Tell me about it... I let them in so they would have some nice grass to eat and they break my table. You'd think they were raised in a barn or something. TXT

So the chairs they were sitting on survived but the table broke? Lousy dinner guests, next time invite them as the dinner, not the dinner guests