Has anybody tried this? The internet has some people saying that it is easy, just the same as steel and other people saying not to bother.
I need to repair the mounting tabs on my rear wings so it doesn't need to be tidy as it will never be seen, just solid.
As this is pretty cheap and will attach to my Clarke 160, I thought about giving it a go anyway (thanks to John for the regulator!)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 1201480913
Aluminium welding with a MIG
Aluminium welding with a MIG
Understeer: when you hit the wall with the front of the car.
Oversteer: when you hit the wall with the back of the car.
Horsepower: how fast you hit the wall.
Torque: how far you take the wall with you.
Oversteer: when you hit the wall with the back of the car.
Horsepower: how fast you hit the wall.
Torque: how far you take the wall with you.
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mr rusty
- Posts: 469
- Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2011 10:17 am
- Location: Harlow, the birthplace of fibreoptic communication, as the town sign says.
Re: Aluminium welding with a MIG
I've done it, but not car work, I've welded up some ally garden furniture in the past. It is pretty much as steel really, you need a reel of ally wire and a tip to suit (it's fatter than steel wire), a bottle of argon, and away you go. Mind you, this was pretty thick stuff so I don't know how it'd be with thin ally, but I can't imagine it would be too difficult.
1968 Triumph Vitesse Mk1 2 litre convertible, Junior Miss rusty has a 1989 998cc Mk2 Metro, Mrs Rusty has a modern common rail diesel thing.
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tractorman
- Posts: 1399
- Joined: Mon Feb 21, 2011 11:22 am
- Location: Wigton, Cumbria
Re: Aluminium welding with a MIG
I looked at this and thought that, had I still got a regulator for aerosol gas instead of giving it to a friend, I might have tried it; there are several "eroded" holes (galvanic corrosion - the lad used steel penny washers when he put it back together) on the Landy's tub and a few places where the same idiot has cut chunks out of panels rather than working things out properly!
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/aluminium-setup.htm
It might be worth opening a hole out in a tip (or using a 0.9mm tip from a gasless torch): I can't remember if Clarke do a 1.0 tip that would help the wire feed. The liner is another thing I was a little concerned about (though I have a nice euro torch, so getting a better alternative liner isn't as much hassle.
I'm not going to go and buy another Hobbyweld (or other brand) cylinder as I'm saving up for an acetylene one (£160-odd last quote)!
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/aluminium-setup.htm
It might be worth opening a hole out in a tip (or using a 0.9mm tip from a gasless torch): I can't remember if Clarke do a 1.0 tip that would help the wire feed. The liner is another thing I was a little concerned about (though I have a nice euro torch, so getting a better alternative liner isn't as much hassle.
I'm not going to go and buy another Hobbyweld (or other brand) cylinder as I'm saving up for an acetylene one (£160-odd last quote)!
Re: Aluminium welding with a MIG
I still have some .9 tips as I have a 5kg roll of flux core which I am using on the bits of metal you can't see (it is very spattery compared to welding with gas)
As it is so cheap I'll give it a whirl and see. For the sake of £20 I think it is worth a try. I can't find a used wing that is better than the one I have and new ones are hens teeth so this strikes me as the best option.
Cheers chaps.
As it is so cheap I'll give it a whirl and see. For the sake of £20 I think it is worth a try. I can't find a used wing that is better than the one I have and new ones are hens teeth so this strikes me as the best option.
Cheers chaps.
Understeer: when you hit the wall with the front of the car.
Oversteer: when you hit the wall with the back of the car.
Horsepower: how fast you hit the wall.
Torque: how far you take the wall with you.
Oversteer: when you hit the wall with the back of the car.
Horsepower: how fast you hit the wall.
Torque: how far you take the wall with you.
Re: Aluminium welding with a MIG
Yeah I did it when restoring the Midget, I had to weld up the steering wheel boss as it was smashed.
As above, I bought a reel of ally wire, a big tip (no need to drill it out, they're all available cheaply) and a bottle or argon and away I went.
My main recollection is of a lot of "ash" floating in the air, so I think I'd recommend doing it in a place with a lot of ventilation. It worked OK though, the boss has never given a moment's trouble since.
Cheers
As above, I bought a reel of ally wire, a big tip (no need to drill it out, they're all available cheaply) and a bottle or argon and away I went.
My main recollection is of a lot of "ash" floating in the air, so I think I'd recommend doing it in a place with a lot of ventilation. It worked OK though, the boss has never given a moment's trouble since.
Cheers
Some people are like Slinkies - they serve no useful purpose, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them downstairs.
Re: Aluminium welding with a MIG
Is MIG welding Aluminium a new thing or have I just never noticed it?
Understeer: when you hit the wall with the front of the car.
Oversteer: when you hit the wall with the back of the car.
Horsepower: how fast you hit the wall.
Torque: how far you take the wall with you.
Oversteer: when you hit the wall with the back of the car.
Horsepower: how fast you hit the wall.
Torque: how far you take the wall with you.
Re: Aluminium welding with a MIG
It's as old as MIG itself. You've just been too caught up with welding ferrous metal to Solihull's finest holework to notice this newfangled technology. 
J
"Home is where you park it", so the saying goes. That may yet come true..
"Home is where you park it", so the saying goes. That may yet come true..
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SirTainleyBarking
- Posts: 413
- Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2011 12:41 am
- Location: Solihull, where Landrovers come from
Re: Aluminium welding with a MIG
Us Silhillians are evenly balanced. The Ally is just as shonkey as the steel in placesJPB wrote:It's as old as MIG itself. You've just been too caught up with welding ferrous metal to Solihull's finest holework to notice this newfangled technology.
Landrovers and Welding go together like Bread and Butter. And in the wet they are about as structurally sound
Biting. It's like kissing except there's a winner
Biting. It's like kissing except there's a winner
Re: Aluminium welding with a MIG
It is amazing how nobody realised (or cared) that galvanic corrosion could be an issue when these things were designed. Still, I don't think 20 years and 185,000 miles is too bad. A bit of new metal and hopefully it will do the same again.
Understeer: when you hit the wall with the front of the car.
Oversteer: when you hit the wall with the back of the car.
Horsepower: how fast you hit the wall.
Torque: how far you take the wall with you.
Oversteer: when you hit the wall with the back of the car.
Horsepower: how fast you hit the wall.
Torque: how far you take the wall with you.
Re: Aluminium welding with a MIG
take a few pics when you try it..