How To Mig Weld Aluminum!

Mig weld aluminum: When it comes to welding Aluminium most people turn to a TIG welder to achieve the desired results from there welding but did you know that you can actually weld Aluminium using a MIG Welder?

The reason why many people do not know how to MIG weld is because learning to MIG weld Aluminium does take a lot of time and dedication, although once mastered understanding how to MIG weld Aluminum is a skill that comes to good use.

For those who do not know, Aluminium is a reactive metal, more so than iron or steel, this means that it is more volatile when welding. For very low gauge Aluminium material (thin Aluminum) a TIG welder would be easier to use than a MIG welder but for all other Aluminium welding a MIG welder can be the perfect choice.

Firstly you need to set up your MIG welder with Aluminium wire then get your welder ready by turning the power and gas on ready for use.

After this you need to remove the thin oxide layer found on the Aluminium where you wish to weld. To remove the oxide layer simply brush the Aluminum with a stainless steel brush and file the edges of the material.

Now you are ready to start welding. To MIG weld Aluminum you will carry out the welding in the same manner as any other MIG welding with only a few slight differences. This means keeping your welding torch at a ninety degree angle and around quarter to half an inch away from the material. When MIG welding Aluminum you need to keep a steady contact speed that is slow enough to ensure penetration of the Aluminum but not too powerful that holes appear.

Unlike welding steel or iron with a MIG welder, the key to welding Aluminum is to weld away from your body by pushing the welding torch. By doing this you will be optimizing the use of the shielding gas which will support you in gaining a cleaner weld.

Summary

While learning MIG welding Aluminum is very interesting it is also important to note that this process is one of the harder welding processes and tends to only be used by welding experts. That being said if you can't afford a TIG welder or you simply wish to learn more welding techniques then this is certainly a great welding process to master.