Aluminum MIG Welding
Aluminum MIG Welding
Always read and follow the safety precautions and operational instructions in your owner's manual.
1. The best feeding of wire for aluminum is done with a spool gun. If you can't use a spool gun, use the shortest gun possible and keep the gun as straight as possible. Use argon only for shielding gas. Only use a push gun technique when welding aluminum.
2. If you are having feeding problems, one thing you can try is a contact tip that is one size bigger than your wire.
3. The most common wire type is ER4043 for all-purpose work. ER5356 is a stiffer wire (easier to feed) and is used when more rigid, higher-strength weld properties are needed.
4. Clean the aluminum before welding to remove the oxide layer. Use a stainless steel wire brush used only for cleaning aluminum.
5. Fill the crater at the end of the weld to avoid a crack. One way to do this is to dwell in the weld pool for a second at the end of the weld.