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Mig welding Al with a spool gun

I sold a cp200 with a spoolmatic, you need some amps to burn aluminum in a spool gun, like a high amperage 100% duty cycle. A 140 ain't going a cut it, doesn't even look like you got an arc going just spot welding wire to the sample. Running argon?
 
100% argon and brand new tank. I can't even get a spot weld out of it even on thin metal. Other welders have gotten nice beads with this machine even on the 3/16".
 
CockyRooster said:
So I went and got a brand new stainless bristled brush and alcohol and scrubbed the crap out of it including the area for the ground clamp and was rewarded with this.

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3/16 plate and it either acts like the metal isn't grounded at all with the wire bouncing off or it just zips through it like a plasma cutter.
Click to expand...

This guy is trying.




I have nothing. I've never seen good results with a spool gun. Are you sure argon is the proper gas (I really don't know.). I know I had an argon tank with my TIG, and the guy from Santa Rosa that came and bought it ran a bead on a couple pieces of aluminum that were in my garage, sounded like bacon sizzling
 
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I'm not sure about dc spoolgun on Al - as far as I remember Al needs AC to help clean the puddle.
Double check your shield gas.. I got an Ar refill once at a place in San Jose but the dude effed up and filled it with CO2 mix - the resulting welds were horrible, the carbon getting cooked out. Also, with Al, clean clean clean. I keep a couple of stainless wire brushes aside to use on Al only. Then a wipe down with acetone and let it dry off, Al oxide will cause the arc to wander immediately.
 
Go to Weldingweb and see what those guys have to say. Bunch of pros on that site.
 
CockyRooster said:
I signed on and shared my pride and joy.:thumbup
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I don't think they are even going to run you out of town either. Good bunch of guys on that site. Extremely knowledgeable and skilled in the welding disciplines.
 
A little luck...

Put the tip on + and then turned the heat and feed WAY down. With the heat at half I kicked this out on 3/16" plate.

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CockyRooster said:
A little luck...

Put the tip on + and then turned the heat and feed WAY down. With the heat at half I kicked this out on 3/16" plate.

76C554C5-5525-4D56-99AA-AFFAA736E52D.jpg
Click to expand...

now that's an improvement. sure you weren't having a seizure or something before?
 
Not sure. Quite possible. In fact it would be a nice way to explain it away. ;)

I assume the black soot is an argon adjustment? Or is that normal?
 
CockyRooster said:
Not sure. Quite possible. In fact it would be a nice way to explain it away. ;)

I assume the black soot is an argon adjustment? Or is that normal?
Click to expand...

I wouldn't know. I never welded aluminum before.
 
getting closer.
some black soot with alum mig is normal,
temp looks a little cold still. too much crown
do a bead and cut the material perpendicular to the bead to check crown vs root.
 
Well, if I ever learned anything from American Chopper, is that being a better grinder is more importanter than being a good welder.:laughing

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