I have a mig welder, and I would like to learn to weld aluminum. I have been told that I must buy an aluminum wire spool gun, because the standard mig wire feeder gun will not work with aluminum wire. I don't understand why my standard wire feeder will not work. It feeds wire just like a spool gun. Why do I need to spend money on a spool gun just to weld aluminum? If a spool gun is truly necessary, where can i find one for a reasonable price? Thanks for your help!
The problem with aluminum is it has to be super clean, and when you run the wire through a standard liner, especially if you've already run standard wire through it it picks up contaminates, making for some very nasty looking welds, however there are non metallic liner kits you can buy for it, the only problem is there a pain to change if you have to switch back and forth all the time. which is why most people just opt to buy a spool gun, and don't forget, you need to use 100% argon and not 25/75 argon co2 as you would with standard mig welding, so now your looking at a new tank also.
This Site Might Help You. RE: Is an aluminum wire spool gun really necessary to weld aluminum with my Mig welder? I have a mig welder, and I would like to learn to weld aluminum. I have been told that I must buy an aluminum wire spool gun, because the standard mig wire feeder gun will not work with aluminum wire. I don't understand why my standard wire feeder will not work. It feeds wire just like a...
Aluminum is a soft wire and needs to be pulled not pushed. A standard mig that pushes wire will kink the aluminum in the liner and jamb up in said liner. Some older machines made for aluminum push and pull the wire at the same time, there is a regular feeder in the machine and one on the gun( a pain to get set right). The spool gun just makes it easier because you are not pushing the wire through the liner, the wire is in the gun making it heavy and you have to use small 1lb spools. You can use your machine as is but you will need a teflon liner to help the wire to slide through to the gun but one jamb up and the wire will kink in the liner. You will need pure argon to weld aluminum. Any welding supply will be able to get one for you (reasonable? I doubt that). You could buy it used but with you asking this question I would be very careful because if you don't know what to look for you can cost yourself a lot of pain and money. * Edit* note - Your welder will need to be of a capable capacity and amperage to properly preform the weld. Check with your local welding supply to see if it is. Then buy what they recommend (from them if they are cheaper or online if they are not). Good luck!
