TIG welding aluminum

Jon Danniken · 2008-05-05T02:09:36+00:00

Howdy,The design of my footpedal current-controlled DC TIG welder is coming along smoothly, but it has brought me to a crossroads.It has come to my attention that welding aluminum with DC is best to be avoided (I am guessing due to the need to get through the oxide layer), and so far I am only designing a provision for foot control of DC current (the current control is via a thyristor bridge after the AC transformer).Here's my question: this project will have a (low current) HF/HV arc starting module. If I leave this on while welding with DC, will that, superimposed on top of the DC current, be of any significant help with welding aluminum?Thanks for any insight into this issue,Jon

May 05, 2008 22 Replies

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Gunner Asch 18 years ago

Foot or fingertip control is WAY MONDO importanto for ANY tig welding. You can get by without one..but you wont like it

And least of all with aluminum, with its very wierd solid/liquidous range. You have to feather your way into it..else you will wind up with the base metal all over your workbench

Gunner

Political Correctness is a doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical liberal minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.

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Jon Danniken 18 years ago

Thanks, Gunner, knowing your experience is invaluable to me on this, since I'm kinda building something before I even know how to use it first.

Thanks again,

Jon

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Jon Danniken 18 years ago

Thanks, Bob, I appreciate knowing this. I'll look into getting one or both of those books, can't have too much information.

Jon

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