Aluminum welding: Mig vs. Tig

[83rampage]

Here's the deal,

I've got a Lincoln Migpak 15 welder, and I was considering getting the Lincoln spool kit for it for some light aluminum fabrication.

but...

my friend wants me to go half on a tig (Miller Diversion 165 was what we were thinking).

Being the tool budget is tight, what would be the better way to go. I know aluminum welding isn't easy regardless of the process, but does one stand out more than the other?

I don't anticipate any problems with owning only half a tig, so lets leave that part out of the discussion.

Thoughts?

[fishcleaner]

I'm not a profesional welder but I do have a Diversion 165 and would recomend it. I don't think an aluminum spool gun would do thin aluminum like a TIG.

[shayne]

but one thing to think about, with a 165 anything larger in overall size and thicker, say, 1/4", power becomes a big issue. the diversion does not always have a long enough duty cycle to be able to heat soak a large piece to make a suitable weld. i'd say if its general fabrication on medium thickness stuff usually then i'd say spoolgun, which can be used on stuff down too 1/8" pretty well with proper setup and patience (not rushing the welding to prevent an overheat of the piece), but if more finite work is in your future and wont have much demand for thicker stuff, than the tig is irreplaceable.
aluminum welding isnt that hard the biggest issue most folks have is lack of prep. the pieces need to be clean,clean,clean. and removing the dull oxide is critical.

[Rrider]

I'd go halfsies. Sounds like a pretty close bud.

Later on you might be able to parallel in another inverter if you really need more power. I'm not sure if this is officially supported for the diversion 165 though.

http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?t=64093

[RoadWarrior222]

I don't anticipate any problems with owning only half a tig, so lets leave that part out of the discussion.

Is that "only" owning half a tig, due to selling the linc, or owning the linc still and half a tig? Just if you need it for everything, then you'll end up bummed some of the time, no matter how fair and accommodating the arrangement is.

[Rrider]

Exactly.. keep the mig and add half the tig.

[83rampage]

No, I will definitely keep the mig, it is just too handy.

I think for myself 1/8" aluminum would be max. Miller does make a bigger tig, but we both will use it for steel sheetmetal so I'm not sure if the bigger tig would be ok for that.

Sounds like the spool attachment will get moved to the back of the tools wanted list. Thanks for the replys.

[RoadWarrior222]

Well if you wanna go thicker, I guess torches will help.

[shadow88]

Well if you wanna go thicker, I guess torches will help.

It would have to be a very clean burn. OXy/acc is out of the question, propane would help, but even heating and even pentration is key without contamination.

[Turbo Joe]

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OXy/acc is out of the question, propane would help, but even heating and even pentration is key without contamination.

not true.. using a rose bud tip you have to mix it so the flame is the closest to the white color. yes even heat is very important! but after using the oxy/acc mix you have to wire brush clean.. besides running a heli mix pushes alot of contamination out of the way for you

[OmniLuvr]

id also say it matters what type of "fabricating" that you are interested in, if you want to make tables and odd random structures, a spool would be cool, but for any kind of car fabrication, nothing beats a tig, very versitile, but as stated before, cleaniness is very important...

[shackwrrr]

It would have to be a very clean burn. OXy/acc is out of the question, propane would help, but even heating and even pentration is key without contamination.

I learned to weld aluminum with oxy/act before tig. Its a lot harder but produces a softer, cleaner weld that is ideal for English wheel or panish work.

[fishcleaner]

I learned to weld aluminum with oxy/act before tig. Its a lot harder but produces a softer, cleaner weld that is ideal for English wheel or panish work.

I have a Henrob torch (also called Cobra) and it works as advertised on aluminum, check out the videos on the site. What is nice about the Henrob is that it works on 4psi of gas so small bottles last forever.

http://www.cut-like-plasma.com/index.htm

[shadow88]

I learned to weld aluminum with oxy/act before tig. Its a lot harder but produces a softer, cleaner weld that is ideal for English wheel or panish work.

Neat to know. I have been told by quite a few welders that the carbon from the accetelene contaminated the welds.

[BadAssPerformance]

I vote TIG... more versatile by far for fab stuff. I looked at the Miller Diversion and almost pulled the trigger but found a decent deal on an older (1993) Miller Syncrowave 250

[thelostartof]

TIG hands down, but as others said getting something bigger might be a better path as you might be surprised how much heat it takes sometimes on thick aluminum to get a semi proper weld.

[shackwrrr]

I have a Henrob torch (also called Cobra) and it works as advertised on aluminum, check out the videos on the site. What is nice about the Henrob is that it works on 4psi of gas so small bottles last forever.

http://www.cut-like-plasma.com/index.htm

Yep, same torch that I learned on. Used this flux that a different color glow so you needed special goggles.

[vipernbox]

If the budget is tight....


LEARN HOW TO GAS WELD!

You won't regret it.


It isn't 'old' or outdated.. Often still required in many welding disciplines.. Some people get this idea that TIG is the real way to weld and Gas is the lowest form used by backyard hacks.. More often than not the opposite is quite true.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF1Srs_e1Aw

[85boostbox]

If the budget is tight....


LEARN HOW TO GAS WELD!

You won't regret it.


It isn't 'old' or outdated.. Often still required in many welding disciplines.. Some people get this idea that TIG is the real way to weld and Gas is the lowest form used by backyard hacks.. More often than not the opposite is quite true.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF1Srs_e1Aw

100% completely agreed. Think of TIG'ing a form of high power soldering. Gas welding is used A LOT in the field that I am in for pipe. Pretty much brazing which is the same thing.

[85boostbox]

And I vote TIG as well. Way cleaner and no splatter. I believe it is a all around win win. TIG is also a lot more controlled. I plan on TIG'ing my floors in just for the sake of the thing metal and less chances of blowing a hole in it. May take more time but I would rather have it look nicer and cleaner.