[TheForge] aluminum welding

[theforge@mailman.qth.net]

this is from an ag letter i get.
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TOP TALK

Spool gun helps when MIG welding aluminum

Bob wonders if you can use aluminum wire in a MIG welder 
without going to the extra expense of a spool gun to help it feed. 
John W says, "If you do everything just right it may work, but it is 
easy to get real nasty 'birdsnests' back at the drive rolls if the wire 
has the slightest sticking or hang up at the torch tip. Big aluminum 
wire works better than the small wire because it is stiffer, but that 
takes more heat." Sberry and ekeller offer suggestions on knurled 
rollers, wire size and alloy selection to make it more likely to work. 
They say to consider a Teflon lined wire, which feeds with less 
friction. Steve with US Alloys says the whole reason for using 
spool guns for aluminum welding is to reduce wire feed problems. 
He reinforces some of the suggestions made by others, and offers 
some valuable tips on selecting the right alloy for the base metal 
you're working on. 

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