Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2005 1:27 am
I manufacture over 1,200 sets of stainless steel headers a year and build thousands of aluminum parts. All are tig welded.
I have been tig welding allmost daily for allmost 25 years.
Any tig welder for $200 new doesnt have the amps to weld 1/4" aluminum. If it hasnt been received return it when it does. You will not be able to give it away to anyone who is knowledgeable on the subject.
Mig welding aluminum never really works well. Because you cannot preheat. At the best it could be used for emergencies. Even when tig welding thick aluminum parts with a low amp welder it takes preheating.
Next up would be a spool gun which can work well in areas like trailer repair or building heavy parts.
Next would come in a push/pull cobra type lead mounted on a larger mig welding source.. This is alot better than a spool gun but you cannot weld small parts and it much better for fabrication lots of heavy parts.
I would suggest purchasing a tig welder. One thing if its not blue dont wassssste your money. In other words buy a miller.
To weld aluminum it takes alot more heat than steel. Even on 1/4" aluminum a 200 amp tig welder you will have to preheat before welding.
If money is an issue and if you are just learning anyhow I would suggest purchasing an old miller 330 a/bp tig welder. These were made from the mid 60's till the early 90's.
I find them local all the time for less than $1,000 with a torch, flow meter, and a bottle. Keep in mind a 2R argon bottle is like $250 if you have to buy it. They can be rented for about $10 a month.
This welder is a workhorse and has solid state circuitry. You can also weld steel, Stainless steel, titanium etc.
It makes a much cleaner and stronger weld than a mig welder especially on aluminum.
I have been tig welding allmost daily for allmost 25 years.
Any tig welder for $200 new doesnt have the amps to weld 1/4" aluminum. If it hasnt been received return it when it does. You will not be able to give it away to anyone who is knowledgeable on the subject.
Mig welding aluminum never really works well. Because you cannot preheat. At the best it could be used for emergencies. Even when tig welding thick aluminum parts with a low amp welder it takes preheating.
Next up would be a spool gun which can work well in areas like trailer repair or building heavy parts.
Next would come in a push/pull cobra type lead mounted on a larger mig welding source.. This is alot better than a spool gun but you cannot weld small parts and it much better for fabrication lots of heavy parts.
I would suggest purchasing a tig welder. One thing if its not blue dont wassssste your money. In other words buy a miller.
To weld aluminum it takes alot more heat than steel. Even on 1/4" aluminum a 200 amp tig welder you will have to preheat before welding.
If money is an issue and if you are just learning anyhow I would suggest purchasing an old miller 330 a/bp tig welder. These were made from the mid 60's till the early 90's.
I find them local all the time for less than $1,000 with a torch, flow meter, and a bottle. Keep in mind a 2R argon bottle is like $250 if you have to buy it. They can be rented for about $10 a month.
This welder is a workhorse and has solid state circuitry. You can also weld steel, Stainless steel, titanium etc.
It makes a much cleaner and stronger weld than a mig welder especially on aluminum.