Quote:
Originally Posted by placestrateg
I am a novice welder, I can lay beads with some skill using MIG, stick, and Oxy-Acetylene. Looking at using this skill in building myself a small aluminum boat. Can anyone recommend what type of welder I should consider in purchasing to do this? I hope this doesn't start a "red is better than blue" war, but if there is a specific model/set up, please let me know and I will take it under advisement.
|
It's possible to weld aluminum with a MIG setup, but probably the best is a TIG welder. I'm pretty much a novice welder myself, but have a couple friends who have welded professionally for many years, and who have tutored me a lot.
One problem with wire-feed MIG welders is that they have a difficult time pushing the aluminum wire out the whip. A spool gun at the end of the whip solves this problem.
Since you're planning to build an aluminum boat, my advice is to get in a lot of practice laying beads on aluminum, as it's much more difficult to weld than steel, as it's so easy to get the aluminum so hot it just blows right out.