Mig Welding Aluminum Chart

Browse suggested weld parameter settings for stick welding tig welding mig solid wire welding and mig flux core welding.

Mig welding aluminum chart.

Good equipment makes mig welding easier while poor equipment can cost you dearly in frustration and weld quality. Mig welding aluminum poses different challenges than welding mild steel due to the physical and chemical properties of aluminum. If you re looking for a machine with multiple welding capabilities we recommend multiprocess welders like the multimatic 215 and multimatic 220 ac dc. Double click on chart to view quick guide for selecting mig wire size and welder amperage for your application.

Workpieces made of aluminum are more susceptible to welding defects that will be discussed in further detail below. Material thicknesses of aluminum that can be mig welded are 14 gauge and heavier. Browse suggested weld parameter settings for mig solid wire welding. Unlike welding with a stick welder mig welding is a semi automatic process.

Mig welders such as the millermatic 211 and millermatic 141 are ideal for the occasional welder. To mig weld aluminum thinner than 14 gauge 074 inch it may be necessary to use specialized pulsed mig or ac tig welding equipment. For 1 8 thick aluminum unless you have the machine set just right the slow steady bead just builds up too much heat because by the time you reach the edge of the metal its really too hot and leaves a huge crater. There are several aluminum mig welding techniques that work ok but the one used in the video is just a slow steady motion.

The settings needed to mig weld aluminum are pretty much the same for all positions. The output capacity of your welder determines the thickness you can weld. To start the pictures above and below are the manufacturer s recommended lincoln welders and miller welding equipment voltage wire feed speed settings and gas recommendations. In most cases it will take 21 to 23 volts to get the arc to spray transfer.

If welding out of position you will want the wire feed speed fast enough to keep the weld full of metal at a. Lincoln mig welding aluminum setting chart aluminum mig welding settings. This article is more a general guideline to help the novice welder understand how the various settings will affect your results.