Thread: MIG welding questions

I have welded mild steel with MIG for many years and have always wanted to try welding aluminium. I already have a bottle of argon from doing a stainless steel job and just need to get the allly wire and hand piece. Is the principle for welding ally the same as steel? Meaning, if I can weld steel competently, should welding ally be difficult?

Originally Posted by stealth

I have welded mild steel with MIG for many years and have always wanted to try welding aluminium. I already have a bottle of argon from doing a stainless steel job and just need to get the allly wire and hand piece. Is the principle for welding ally the same as steel? Meaning, if I can weld steel competently, should welding ally be difficult?

Sort of. Aluminium welding requires good hand speed, high amps, spotless welding prep and lots of practice. Not really good for thin ally as the melting point of your work piece is easily reached! Keep your wire brushes for ally cleaning totally separate from your steel work.

I spent a year in an ally fabricating workshop as a TA, at the end I was an OK welder of aluminium. TIG is much better for a newbie but still hard.