Saturday 11 May 2019

Suggestions For Tig Welding Aluminum

By Gregory Davis


A very versatile metal that is being used today is aluminum. Industries including aerospace, automotive, transportation, and construction have been using this metal in various ways for decades. The properties of being both strong and light weight make it a very desirable choice. Add in the fact that it is corrosion resistant makes it more versatile than steel and iron for different uses. Unfortunately, tig welding aluminum has a reputation for being difficult. A few tips can overcome the difficulties making it a favorite.

Being lightweight and strong makes it a great metal to create products. Since it is lightweight the aerospace industry has been using it in airplanes for decades to make the craft lighter. Some vehicle manufacturers have even begun using it for heavy-duty trucks. In the past, steel was the go-to metal for all work that needed to withstand rough environments, but this has been changing over time.

Using AC current is better than using DC current for aluminum welding projects. Since it has an oxide component, using the AC current allows the clean removal of this during the process. DC does not make this happen. Newer equipment usually has controls that allow you to fine-tune the current to factor in the thickness of the metal, the type of weld, and other needs to create the perfect weld.

Rare-earth tungsten rods are better. As the welding industry experimented with the various types of rod materials, some toxins made their way into the materials. The others have issues with many toxins including radiation in some. The rare-earth is purer and eliminates much of the toxic fumes. These can be identified by their blue tint.

The angle matters. When creating a weld on this metal, it is important to use a fifteen-degree angle during the work. This angle gives optimum performance and bead. The angle also allows the metal to push through as you move along the new weld. It can also help prevent pooling.

If a pool develops, it is better to stop and restart. The problem with continuing to push through is that aluminum does not handle pooling well. With most metals, it is fine to continue to push through the pool as it will self-correct. With this, it is better to stop, let it cool, then restart again. Pushing through will only make the pool worse.

Argon is the choice of the industry. While some may suggest using helium to work with aluminum, the suggestion is really not practical. Helium is used for creating a higher temperature arc, but this can cause other problems. Using argon works well as long as you are patient and work through the process the right way. There is not as much room for error with this metal but argon is more forgiving since the heat source is not as high. Mistakes happen, but higher heat can cause devastation.

The challenge to welding is working with the different metals that are available. With just a few adjustments, the process can be made easier with each one. Practice with different types can quickly show what works best with each one. Most of the skills are the same but practicing with each metal is the best way to learn.




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