i got a wire welder and im wondering if i put aluminum wire in it if it would weld aluminum?

Question

i got a wire welder and im wondering if i put aluminum wire in it if it would weld aluminum???

Answer 1

You need to use flux cored wire or have the right gas to weld properly, but lots of people MIG weld aluminum. Practice a bunch before you try the real thing. Find out if your welder has enough power to weld the aluminum. If it's not too thick you should be OK.

Answer 2

Yes, you can weld aluminum, but you need the right gas for aluminum welding, and most mig welders need an insert for the wire to run through. I think its like a silicone based sleeve, that goes in for the aluminum wire to push through easily. If you get the right items, its not bad welding aluminum.

Answer 3

The problem with aluminum is it has to be super clean, and when you run the wire through a standard liner, especially if you've already run standard wire through it it picks up contaminates, making for some very nasty looking welds, however there are non metallic liner kits you can buy for it, the only problem is there a pain to change if you have to switch back and forth all the time. which is why most people just opt to buy a spool gun, and don't forget, you need to use 100% argon and not 25/75 argon co2 as you would with standard mig welding, so now your looking at a new tank also.

Answer 4

speedbugg is right,one thing you may run into is that with a cheaper mig the aluminum wire is too sofe and you will need to use a wire pull motor at the welding tip ,if your machine will handle it,good luck

Answer 5

i had a cheap MiG welder and got a 6 foot whip that was Teflon lined so the pusher would work , get the right gas and you too can weld beer cans with practise