Welding aluminum with a spool gun |
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Mark W.
Member Sponsor Member Joined: 09 Nov. 2014 Location: Silverton, OR Status: Offline Points: 7923 |
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Posted: 10 Jan. 2021 at 7:09pm |
Does anyone here have experience welding aluminum with a spool gun? I would be welding .065 wall square and rectangular tubing. Looking for advise. I'm not a great welder I can stick together stuff from 16ga to 1/4" but its never real prudy. The project I have in mind would be cost prohibitive to have someone else do the welding. So trying to figure out my options. A TIG machine is not in my future.
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Chug A Lug
1948 2A Body Customized 1949 3A W/S 1957 CJ5 Frame Modified Late 50's 134L 9.25"clutch T90A D18 (1.25") D44/30 flanged E-Locker D25 5.38 Since 1962 |
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otto
Member Joined: 26 Feb. 2012 Location: Orygun Status: Online Points: 2240 |
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I worked in a shop that had a Miller spoolmatic gun. I recall it wasn't the most precise device and was difficult to dial in. It was very splattery, sparky to use. I was fixing a truck cab that had been fixed before.
Do you have a lot of scrap to practice on? The cleaner the metal the better.
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47 CJ2A w/fuel injected boat engine
48 CJ2A 64 Ford Econoline Travelwagon If you can't get there in a Jeep, get a motorcycle! |
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oldtime
Member Joined: 12 Sep. 2009 Location: Missouri Status: Offline Points: 4139 |
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Even if it’s a great quality machine you really need a TIG on .065.
Lincoln square wave 200 is a good unit.
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Currently building my final F-134 powered 3B .
T98-A Rock Crawler using exclusive factory parts and Approved Special Equipment from the Willys Motors era (1953-1963) Zero aftermarket parts |
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Mark W.
Member Sponsor Member Joined: 09 Nov. 2014 Location: Silverton, OR Status: Offline Points: 7923 |
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This is what I am finding out. I was just trying to be lazy. Ill go back to figuring out how to assemble it mechanically.
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Chug A Lug
1948 2A Body Customized 1949 3A W/S 1957 CJ5 Frame Modified Late 50's 134L 9.25"clutch T90A D18 (1.25") D44/30 flanged E-Locker D25 5.38 Since 1962 |
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duffer
Member Joined: 02 Feb. 2012 Location: Bozeman, MT Status: Offline Points: 1076 |
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Yep. I use a Lincoln 250 Magnum spool gun and you can do a decent job down to 1/8" and with a light touch, .090. Any thinner and it's just about impossible not to blow holes through it. On the plus side, MIG is a much faster process for thicker sections. I was a bit surprised to see that's what Aqualu uses to weld up their aluminum Jeep tubs/fenders/grills.
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1955 3B: 441sbc,AGE 4 speed transmission, Teralow D18w/Warn OD, 4.11:1 D44's/ARB's, glass tub & fenders, aluminum hood/grill, 8274, York OBA, Premier Power Welder; 67 CJ5: 225,T86AA, D18, 4.88's, OD
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oldtime
Member Joined: 12 Sep. 2009 Location: Missouri Status: Offline Points: 4139 |
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John, do you have AC pulse arc ?
I agree .090 is minimum thickness for all but the very best welders running pulse arc AC. The pulse arc allows for a cooler deposit than normal dip transfer mig weld. While the other mig method of “spray arc” would be totally in appropriate for thin aluminum.
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Currently building my final F-134 powered 3B .
T98-A Rock Crawler using exclusive factory parts and Approved Special Equipment from the Willys Motors era (1953-1963) Zero aftermarket parts |
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Greaser007
Member Joined: 16 Jan. 2018 Location: Anderson, Calif Status: Offline Points: 850 |
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Way back, in the early '80's i bought a spool of aluminum wire to run in my Linde 225 mig-master, to weld up a badly cracked hood for a Ferguson TO-20 ? tractor. From my memory, i did get it welded, but if my memory serves me correctly, it was quite a challenge. Seems like i had to 'stitch-weld' in short bursts. Nowadays, i know of a good local welder who likes aluminum, and i have no idea what he uses.
I have not used a spool-gun yet. But, i think the guys who weld the aluminum hulls on white water inboard river boats do use spool guns. And they are mostly using a minimum of 0.125" material too.
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oldmansimek
Member Joined: 23 Apr. 2019 Location: CT Status: Offline Points: 177 |
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I hate saying this but I have seen the alumiweld rods that you use mapp gas (kind of like brazing) with do some pretty impressive stuff and hold up really well. Having said that I only use tig for anything under 1/8". I think I saw someone mention aqualu and being surprised about the spool welding, I have a good friend who builds and repairs over the road aluminum fuel tanker trailers and he uses a spool on everything. |
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Mark W.
Member Sponsor Member Joined: 09 Nov. 2014 Location: Silverton, OR Status: Offline Points: 7923 |
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I have a real nice MAPP torch setup and its virtually worthless as MAPP is unavailable any where around here. Some 8-10 years ago one of the 4 big welding supply outfits we have in Salem told me they could send my tank off and get it filled but the cost was insane like $250 for my 30" tall tank.
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Chug A Lug
1948 2A Body Customized 1949 3A W/S 1957 CJ5 Frame Modified Late 50's 134L 9.25"clutch T90A D18 (1.25") D44/30 flanged E-Locker D25 5.38 Since 1962 |
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