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| Science Forum Index » Engineering - Joining (Welding) Forum » Welding aluminum with Millermatic 251... |
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| Ignoramus5648... |
 Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 2:42 pm |
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I would like to know if welding aluminum is possible with a
Millermatic 251, without a spool gun. That is, would the regular
wirefeed be able to push aluminum wire through a regular MIG gun like
Bernard Q-30 series. If so, what would be the typical grades of
aluminum wire used and can I use 25/75 mix for that.
Thanks |
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| Phil Kangas... |
| Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 8:15 pm |
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"Ignoramus5648" <> wrote in message
[quote:602a7b7a1c]I would like to know if welding aluminum is possible with
a
Millermatic 251, without a spool gun. That is, would the
regular
wirefeed be able to push aluminum wire through a regular
MIG gun like
Bernard Q-30 series. If so, what would be the typical
grades of
aluminum wire used and can I use 25/75 mix for that.
Thanks
[/quote:602a7b7a1c]
Possible? Yes. Bitchy? Even more so. The only wire you'll
push
through that whip is the 5000 series. 4000 series is too
soft to
push. 5000 series is _very_ smoky and messy. You use
straight
Argon, and maybe a bit of Helium in the right circumstance.
Would I do it? NFW! TIG rules, especially in repair work.
YMMV
phil |
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| Ernie Leimkuhler... |
| Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 10:59 pm |
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In article <vo6dnRRWHMu1FErXnZ2dnUVZ_t6dnZ2d at (no spam) giganews.com>,
Ignoramus5648 <ignoramus5648 at (no spam) NOSPAM.5648.invalid> wrote:
[quote:5e1ba11058]I would like to know if welding aluminum is possible with a
Millermatic 251, without a spool gun. That is, would the regular
wirefeed be able to push aluminum wire through a regular MIG gun like
Bernard Q-30 series. If so, what would be the typical grades of
aluminum wire used and can I use 25/75 mix for that.
Thanks
[/quote:5e1ba11058]
5356 wire, a teflon liner for the gun, pure argon or argon/helium mix.
You have to keep the gun cable very straight, and clip off the wire
flush with tip every time.
For 3/64" wire use a 1/16" tip.
Smooth drive rollers are best so you don't indent teeth into the wire,
therefore increasing friction.
Drive roller tension should be set so if the wire is stubbed out it
slips on the drive rollers.
This reduces the chance of bird-nesting.
One of the main problems is the slight delay in the gas flow.
This will make a slight barf at the beginning of each weld, unless you
hardwire an over-ride for the gas solenoid in the machine so you get
pre-flow gas.
It can work, but it is a hassle. |
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| David Billington... |
| Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 12:25 am |
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Ernie Leimkuhler wrote:
[quote:b7a7754617]In article <vo6dnRRWHMu1FErXnZ2dnUVZ_t6dnZ2d at (no spam) giganews.com>,
Ignoramus5648 <ignoramus5648 at (no spam) NOSPAM.5648.invalid> wrote:
I would like to know if welding aluminum is possible with a
Millermatic 251, without a spool gun. That is, would the regular
wirefeed be able to push aluminum wire through a regular MIG gun like
Bernard Q-30 series. If so, what would be the typical grades of
aluminum wire used and can I use 25/75 mix for that.
Thanks
5356 wire, a teflon liner for the gun, pure argon or argon/helium mix.
You have to keep the gun cable very straight, and clip off the wire
flush with tip every time.
For 3/64" wire use a 1/16" tip.
Smooth drive rollers are best so you don't indent teeth into the wire,
therefore increasing friction.
Drive roller tension should be set so if the wire is stubbed out it
slips on the drive rollers.
This reduces the chance of bird-nesting.
One of the main problems is the slight delay in the gas flow.
This will make a slight barf at the beginning of each weld, unless you
hardwire an over-ride for the gas solenoid in the machine so you get
pre-flow gas.
It can work, but it is a hassle.
How common are rollers with teeth as I've only seen one, although I've[/quote:b7a7754617]
only looked at a few dozen MIG wire feed rollers over 25 years. The
particularly one was on a small low end MIG and was a PITA, as while I
could adjust it to work OK and not birdnest at the slightest sign of the
wire sticking, the owner couldn't. In the end just machined as much of
the tops of the teeth out of the grooves to reduce the bite and job
done, everyone happy. |
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| Ignoramus15879... |
| Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 1:28 pm |
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On 2009-10-16, Ernie Leimkuhler <ernie at (no spam) stagesmith.com> wrote:
[quote:4319215997]
It can work, but it is a hassle.
[/quote:4319215997]
Ernie, thanks, it would seem that it is not worth doing that, right?
i |
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| Ernie Leimkuhler... |
| Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 11:08 pm |
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In article <e5ednQwTp5XIVEXXnZ2dnUVZ_sadnZ2d at (no spam) giganews.com>,
Ignoramus15879 <ignoramus15879 at (no spam) NOSPAM.15879.invalid> wrote:
[quote:0bc34e77df]On 2009-10-16, Ernie Leimkuhler <ernie at (no spam) stagesmith.com> wrote:
It can work, but it is a hassle.
Ernie, thanks, it would seem that it is not worth doing that, right?
i
[/quote:0bc34e77df]
Depends...
I did it for a project many years ago because it was my only option.
It worked, but the first time I used a spoolgun I swore..."NEVER AGAIN".
You can rent a power supply for about $50 for a weekend, and a spoolgun
to go with it for about $75.
Plan your project to weld it over a weekend.
It worked for me for years.
I know this sounds like sacrilege , but you don't have to OWN
everything. |
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| TinLizziedl... |
| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 2:19 am |
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[quote:d003d71eaf]I know this sounds like sacrilege , but you don't have to OWN
everything.
[/quote:d003d71eaf]
Gasp! ((shhh- don't tell Gunner))) ;>)
--
Tin Lizzie
"Elephant: A mouse built to government specifications."-Lazarus Long |
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| Gunner Asch... |
| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 4:39 am |
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On Sun, 18 Oct 2009 01:19:03 -0700, TinLizziedl <nothere at (no spam) donttry.com>
wrote:
[quote:9d6bde014a]
I know this sounds like sacrilege , but you don't have to OWN
everything.
Gasp! ((shhh- don't tell Gunner))) ;>)
[/quote:9d6bde014a]
Ah...er....ahum......you dont? Really?
Your kidding everyone...right?
No?
Damn
Sigh
Gunner
"Lenin called them "useful idiots," those people living in
liberal democracies who by giving moral and material support
to a totalitarian ideology in effect were braiding the rope that
would hang them. Why people who enjoyed freedom and prosperity worked
passionately to destroy both is a fascinating question, one still with us
today. Now the useful idiots can be found in the chorus of appeasement,
reflexive anti-Americanism, and sentimental idealism trying to inhibit
the necessary responses to another freedom-hating ideology, radical Islam"
Bruce C. Thornton, a professor of Classics at American University of Cal State Fresno |
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