welding aluminum?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,186
Likes: 45
From: detroit area
welding aluminum?
i want to buy a welder to do aluminum (for my furniture line/prototypes) and need some guidance....not really sure what i should look for and what to buy....... i have a regular arc/mig welder....wire feed for steel..... tried to to the aluminum setup on it but didn't really work to well........ i would rather just get a good setup for aluminum..... any links would be helpfull .......... the thickest i will prolly weld is 3/4 (at the max)..
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,186
Likes: 45
From: detroit area
www.237am.com
first set will be end tables/dining room tables....then conference tables then if i feel lucky, i'll get into chairs........ i need to start building asap....
sort of a modern/industrial style........ but i hate to label it...
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first set will be end tables/dining room tables....then conference tables then if i feel lucky, i'll get into chairs........ i need to start building asap....
sort of a modern/industrial style........ but i hate to label it...
b
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 0
From: Philo Illinois
You should go with a tig welder. You might want to sign up at a local Jr. College for lessons, tig welding requires a little more talent then mig welding. I remember in high school (SEVERAL years ago) my shop teacher welded 3 pop cans together with a tig welder. Good luck in your projects.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: Gilbert AZ
TIG
My dad's work(http://www.uniquehd.com/) makes alluminum screen doors and all of the welding that is done by hand(very little) uses TIG welders. I think that their robot cell even uses TIG.
My dad's work(http://www.uniquehd.com/) makes alluminum screen doors and all of the welding that is done by hand(very little) uses TIG welders. I think that their robot cell even uses TIG.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 61,415
Likes: 478
From: Here to make friends
St. Jude Donor '11, '16-'17
If you've got a stick welder, you can get a TIG torch and a bottle of gas that will work with it. I haven't ever tried one, so I don't know how well they work.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
From: Thomson Illinois
If you are planning to weld material that may be up too 3/4" in thickness in a production environment, depending on the alloy... I would STRONGLY recommend going with a spool gun. I have welded literally 100's of tons of 6061 / T-6, 3/8" aluminum for a few years and I used a spool gun for assembly, TIG for any repair work. To put it simply... a TIG (as good as it is) CANNOT keep up with wire feed for speed. As far as strength, I dont think you will have to worry there either if your material is clean to start with. Our 1/8" coupons would test @ +80,000 #'s tensil with spool guns.
Last edited by kdcollins; Mar 6, 2006 at 08:28 PM.
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Instructor
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
From: Thomson Illinois
No doubt you are going to experience prices that may truly grab your attention when purchasing welding equipment. My spoolgun run about $1000 for the unit itself, but there are much more economic ones available (more expensive as well). I have Miller equipment and here is a link to compare spoolguns.
http://www.millerwelds.com/products/..._spoolgun.html This link shows for a mobile unit, but it will attach to most any unit with the proper connections (wich may have to be added to your welder).
Miller is not the only player in the game but they are a good reliable piece of equipment much like any industrial equipment. Lincoln is another vendor that I would look into if I were you.
http://www.millerwelds.com/products/..._spoolgun.html This link shows for a mobile unit, but it will attach to most any unit with the proper connections (wich may have to be added to your welder).
Miller is not the only player in the game but they are a good reliable piece of equipment much like any industrial equipment. Lincoln is another vendor that I would look into if I were you.