Mag Mate 220 mig welder

[LandyAndy]

People.
I have a Mag Mate 220 mig welder.
Im pretty sure I know the answer,but will ask.
Is this mig able to weld aluminium with the correct wire/gas???
I think not as it dosent have a reversible earth like other machines that do seem to have.Just been looking for the book of words as Ive had the machine from new,not seeing them at the momentGoogled and found precious little
Thanks
Andrew

[Toxic_Avenger]

Send me a pm with your email address and I'll see what I can dig up...

[roverrescue]

Andy

First ignore most that is written on the web. I think most people who say you can't push Mig ally on the web have never tried! Sure I now use a dedicated pulse Mig for al but I have put 30kg or so of wire thru my old girl Lincoln 250s prior to acquiring the pulse.

-To Mig al you run earth negative same as steel so that shouldn't stop you.
-220A gives you plenty of herbs should be good enough up to 6mm or so without too much prep.
-the big issue will be wire feed, does your unit have two drive with two idler rollers or just singles?
- in any case you may get away with it , buy some 1.2mm wire 4043 grade.
4043 will feed better, slightly less tests tensile strength than 5356 but more ductility. Either way it will push better so try it. Buy a dedicated al liner and some 1.4mm tips. You can try ridged rollers but imho they are not needed. Straight argon gas.

Set her up, before striking an arc set your roller pressure so that the rollers slip if you dead head the wire. This alone will prevent 90% bird nests. This will be your saving grace if you only have single drive roller.

Now grab some clean known alloy al. 5052 or 5251 should weld like butter with 4043. Try some 3mm plate. Now have at it ... Run a faster wire speed than you are use to with moderate to high voltage. Pull the puddle and move like blazes.

Al goes from solid to dripping through your work boot tongue before you know it. Like a Pap smear get in do your thing get out, don't hesitate or play.

As I said I've burnt miles of 1.2mm wire on the Lincoln 250s with minimal swearing.

But I'd never go back now I have tried pulse Mig! It's a new world.

Steve

[LandyAndy]

Andy

First ignore most that is written on the web. I think most people who say you can't push Mig ally on the web have never tried! Sure I now use a dedicated pulse Mig for al but I have put 30kg or so of wire thru my old girl Lincoln 250s prior to acquiring the pulse.

-To Mig al you run earth negative same as steel so that shouldn't stop you.
-220A gives you plenty of herbs should be good enough up to 6mm or so without too much prep.
-the big issue will be wire feed, does your unit have two drive with two idler rollers or just singles?
- in any case you may get away with it , buy some 1.2mm wire 4043 grade.
4043 will feed better, slightly less tests tensile strength than 5356 but more ductility. Either way it will push better so try it. Buy a dedicated al liner and some 1.4mm tips. You can try ridged rollers but imho they are not needed. Straight argon gas.

Set her up, before striking an arc set your roller pressure so that the rollers slip if you dead head the wire. This alone will prevent 90% bird nests. This will be your saving grace if you only have single drive roller.

Now grab some clean known alloy al. 5052 or 5251 should weld like butter with 4043. Try some 3mm plate. Now have at it ... Run a faster wire speed than you are use to with moderate to high voltage. Pull the puddle and move like blazes.

Al goes from solid to dripping through your work boot tongue before you know it. Like a Pap smear get in do your thing get out, don't hesitate or play.

As I said I've burnt miles of 1.2mm wire on the Lincoln 250s with minimal swearing.

But I'd never go back now I have tried pulse Mig! It's a new world.

Steve

AWESOME info.
Thanks
Andrew

[flagg]

Make sure what you're welding is super clean.. if it is oxidized or has anything on it it will increase the melting temp of the surface relative to the ally underneath and make it much harder to get a nice puddle, increase blowouts and give you poor joining.