question on welding aluminum

[rnln]

Hi guys,
I upgraded my lincoln weld pak 100 to weld aluminum with 100% argon. The first problem I encountered was every time I hit it, I got a bird net right at the wheel. If I pull the trigger but the wire is not touching the aluminum (not sparkling), then wire ran out fine. I tried more than 5 times and had the same problem. Anyone know why?

Thank you.

Here is how I set it at.

[legion]

AC or DC?

[cgarr]

When holding the gun you feel the wire hitting? is it kicking back? Could have the feed speed up too high or not enough amps. You using a spool gun?

[1990C4S]

Assuming you don't have a spool gun...

Do you have a Teflon liner in your gun? If not, get one.

A push-pull gun is the right way. Anything else is a struggle.

[timchar]

Make sure tip you are using is bigger than the wire. Tim

[Bill Douglas]

Inside the welder; the earth and positive, are they setup correctly for aluminium? And the wire diameter correct for the tip.

[wswartzwel]

I have a Lincoln SP135T... I tried converting... Put the teflon liner in the hose... Special rubber wheel for the drive... Even added some plastic tubing to try and stop it from bird nesting.. No luck. Aluminum wire doesn't like to be pushed that far. Get a spool gun.
I bought some Neptune stick welding rods made for aluminum, and use my Miller portable DC welder with reversed polarity for welding aluminum.

[timchar]

^Agree, aluminum wire doesn't do very well in longer runs. Spool gun might be the answer. Tim

[1990C4S]

Guys, he has not even struck an arc, he can't feed wire without getting a birdsnest. The problem is not polarity. Yet.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

Guys, he has not even struck an arc, he can't feed wire without getting a birdsnest. The problem is not polarity. Yet.

That's not what I read.

He said the aluminium wire feeds just fine until he strikes an arc. Then it makes a birds nest.

Sounds like the power from the arc is getting to the wire feed motor and causing it to go ape ****.

[1990C4S]

So when he says he 'hit it' he means the wire hit the weld material? I assumed he meant the trigger?

If that's the case he does need to confirm the polarity AND the weld start characteristics, which he may have no control over on that machine.

But first you need to make sure the power source is turning on. If you are hitting the material with the wire and there is no arc, then either the power source is not on, your wire has come off the feed head, or you don't have a ground.

It should be slightly difficult the hold the wire back with two pinched fingers while you're feeding....

[rnln]

Originally Posted by legion

AC or DC?

I did switch the wires.

[rnln]

Originally Posted by cgarr

When holding the gun you feel the wire hitting? is it kicking back? Could have the feed speed up too high or not enough amps. You using a spool gun?

I felt just a little bit, close to none, compare to the kick back when welding with flux wire. I will try to slow the wire speed down, after I see if I can pull the wire out. Now, it's stay in there. The aluminum wire is easy to break when pulling it.

[rnln]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

Inside the welder; the earth and positive, are they setup correctly for aluminium? And the wire diameter correct for the tip.

1990C4S, I don't have spool gun. What is push and pull gun? I use the normal original gun, switching to copper nose cover.

timchar, the tip's hole is bigger than the wire. It's can run out easy when not welding.

Bill Douglas, I think it's is correct, according to the diagram. Switching + and _ wires. install the module for gas. Checked on gas coming out at the nose when I pull trigger, flip the wheel.

[rnln]

Originally Posted by wswartzwel

I have a Lincoln SP135T... I tried converting... Put the teflon liner in the hose... Special rubber wheel for the drive... Even added some plastic tubing to try and stop it from bird nesting.. No luck. Aluminum wire doesn't like to be pushed that far. Get a spool gun.
I bought some Neptune stick welding rods made for aluminum, and use my Miller portable DC welder with reversed polarity for welding aluminum.

oh no, are you saying my lincoln 100 is useless for aluminum, without spool gun? That's sad.

[rnln]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

Guys, he has not even struck an arc, he can't feed wire without getting a birdsnest. The problem is not polarity. Yet.

Sorry I didn't make clear. I could get wire to come out smoothly when I pull the trigger. I can feel gas comes out to. The bird net is right when I strike it. Soon it arc, it's stop, and bird net.

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by rnln

oh no, are you saying my lincoln 100 is useless for aluminum, without spool gun? That's sad.

Nope. I saw a regular Lincoln - without spool gun, successfully welding with aluminium on a youtube. I remember the guy said to keep the cable reasonably straight and it will feed OK.

[rnln]

here is how the wires set up. I think it is correct. + goes to the gun. - goes to the clamp for -

[rnln]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

Nope. I saw a regular Lincoln - without spool gun, successfully welding with aluminium on a youtube. I remember the guy said to keep the cable reasonably straight and it will feed OK.

for me, pulling trigger without striking it, it comes out fine. As long as I strike it, the first time it arcs, it will stop right away. And I have bird net. I tried multiple times and it happens the same way.
Looking at the 2 knobs, I did set wire speed to high and low power, as many youtube clips mentioned.

[Arizona_928]

Tig it!