OT MIG revisited

pat sublett · Sep 14, 2013

I ask Question earlier about welding cast aluminum. Yes I know That I need "pull feed" and argon gas. I have a Hobart 190 which has a pull spool option. The Items that I want to weld were welded by the manufacturer so I assume that the alloy is weldable. I was reluctant to add the spool option not knowing if it had to be TIG welded. I normally only use it to weld steel using a argon blend.

toadady · Sep 14, 2013

dad uses a tweco mini mig gun 6foot lead, with a Teflon liner, 6063 wire, and uses helium instead of argon, but now helium is very hard to get.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 14, 2013

6063 would be the type of aluminum not the filler
metal.

For Pat. The most popular filler wire for cast
aluminum is 4043. If it's a heavier casting some
preheat to about 400 deg. is a good idea. A die
grinder with a single cut burr for aluminum is a
good way to prep it and make sure it's super
clean. If you don't have a die grinder, you can
get grinding wheels for aluminum. A new stainless
steel wire brush is also good for aluminum. Make
sure not to use it on steel or it will pick up
carbon and contaminate the aluminum. If the weld
turns black, grind it out and do it again. The
black means it's dirty. Sometimes you have to
grind it out 2 or 3 times before you burn all
dirty stuff out.

pat sublett · Sep 14, 2013

Thanks for the help.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 14, 2013

What is it you need to weld?

jon f mn · Sep 15, 2013

Again it depends on what you are welding. It's really hard to say if you can without a better description or pics of what you are trying to weld. Your welder is on the small side for welding thick aluminum, but it may work. Cast aluminum varies so much that giving advice without seeing it is hard. Some, like auto trannys, is real dirty and poor quality and hard to weld because it has so much contamination in it. Others is very clean but hard and will need to be preheated. Please post a pick or give a better description and we can help better.

toadady · Sep 15, 2013

6063 IS a filler also, bit harder than 4043

gitrib · Sep 15, 2013

Saw your previous post but neglected to reply I am 84 years old and 50 yrs ago I did a lot of Mig Aluminum welding. I had a Hobart 200 Amp condinuous rated unit with a Cobra-Matic push-Pull Water cooled gun with teflon lining. Welded alt on truck beds. Some would have cast hinge points. They were buggers. Had a Hobart tll me at that time to raise p0wer and slow wire feed and use a spray arc It was really strangeIt was sort of like painting on the Aluminum. Really had to run water to keep gun cool. Remember I am over80 and htat has been long time Ago/ graydon

Anonymous-0 · Sep 16, 2013

You may be thinking of 5356 filler rod which is
recommended for 6063. It is harder than 4043 and has
some magnesium in it. There is also new filler rod
out that is a cross between 4043 and 5356. I think
it's a 4943 or something like that. Supposed to weld
like 4043 but have the higher strength of 5356.

OT MIG revisited

pat sublett

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toadady

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Anonymous-0

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pat sublett

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Anonymous-0

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jon f mn

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toadady

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gitrib

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Anonymous-0

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