Flat Bottom
Well-known member
I got a break in the weather today so i hooked up the spool gun and got some 100% argon and decided to start some practice beads. First off don't reverse the polarity like your grandfather says... good new is if you do, you will find out rapidly. I was used to welding with an arc welder and mild steel with a mig, i have welded with tig and gas etc... but i don't have the money for a tig welder so i went with a spool gun. I only did a couple thin plates of aluminum and i'm already getting the hang of it. Just thought i would make a real simple thread here for those of you who may be having trouble or just starting like i am. Here are a couple things i have learned.
push the weld, don't pull like you normally would welding steel (this is in the instructions)
run your shielding gas at between 25-30
make sure your material is fairly clean (cleaner the better)
don't weld all in the same area at once, you will warp your aluminum, unless it's really thick. spread your welding job out, and allow ample time for area's that may need a couple beads to cool before pooring the heat to it again.
These are a couple things i've learned, and for those of you who know what your doing, please don't take my simplicity as an insult, even though some of it may be fairly common sense. And for those of you who may be attempting this as well, we can give eachother some help perhaps. I don't have any pictures right now but i'll try to get some up. And if anyone with more experience has anything to add please do.
push the weld, don't pull like you normally would welding steel (this is in the instructions)
run your shielding gas at between 25-30
make sure your material is fairly clean (cleaner the better)
don't weld all in the same area at once, you will warp your aluminum, unless it's really thick. spread your welding job out, and allow ample time for area's that may need a couple beads to cool before pooring the heat to it again.
These are a couple things i've learned, and for those of you who know what your doing, please don't take my simplicity as an insult, even though some of it may be fairly common sense. And for those of you who may be attempting this as well, we can give eachother some help perhaps. I don't have any pictures right now but i'll try to get some up. And if anyone with more experience has anything to add please do.