Stupid question:Welding Almn piping
Stupid question:Welding Almn piping I know it is a stupid question but what welder are yall using for welding the alumn cold sides up? I am working on getting rid of all or most of my silicone connectors to reduce the chances of leaking.
I checked with a couple of welders in the area and mosteither do not have the machine to do it OR if they do it will cost me somewhere between 200-500 dollars to have it welded! That to me is ridiculous. I wold rather buy a maching and do it myself.
I understand most TIG machines can cost 1200 or more but is there a way to weld that stuff including cast alumn pieces without breaking the bank? Does the harbor freight machines do it?
I checked with a couple of welders in the area and mosteither do not have the machine to do it OR if they do it will cost me somewhere between 200-500 dollars to have it welded! That to me is ridiculous. I wold rather buy a maching and do it myself.
I understand most TIG machines can cost 1200 or more but is there a way to weld that stuff including cast alumn pieces without breaking the bank? Does the harbor freight machines do it?
You WILL get what you pay for.
Blue or Red is your friend....
I bought a Miller Diversion 165 for my first TIG and think its amazing... i got rid of my mig welder, it just sat and sat. If i need bigger, i'll step up to a larger machine.. 200dx or something.
Blue or Red is your friend....
I bought a Miller Diversion 165 for my first TIG and think its amazing... i got rid of my mig welder, it just sat and sat. If i need bigger, i'll step up to a larger machine.. 200dx or something.
Whats a good price for that machine?
Ok thanks for the recommendation...BUT I will weld just a few pieces a year lol. I am not going out and buying a 3500 dollar rig just to do a few pipes or repairs once in a while. I have a wire fed welder, a small one that I do all my body work, floor pans, steel pipe including turbo piping etc. I will spend maybe 500 max. thank you though for letting me know that aluminum needs to be welded AC. I have seen several TIG machines stating they are not suitable for aluminum and I was wondering why. Its because they are all DC. Will a wire feeder with shield gas weld the small stuff that I have? Maybe replace my liner with a teflon liner and use 100% argon and aluminum wire? Please dont flame me guys, I can weld but I am not a professional.
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2013
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From: Great White North
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Verdad Gallardo Man I wish I was close. I live about 4 hrs away. Thank you for the offer. I have a couple of friends that can do it but they do not have the machines. So basically they do it as a profession and still in my same boat. lol
9 Second Club
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 13,616
Likes: 185
From: Norn Iron
Aluminium welding generally speaking needs an AC TIG machine.
Take a look in the Tools/Fabrication section. Some people do have good success with the cheap chinese machines.
Of course, you can go old school and aluminium can be welded with a flame. ( ie oxy-acetylene )
It can be done with MIG, but it is tricky too.
Take a look in the Tools/Fabrication section. Some people do have good success with the cheap chinese machines.
Of course, you can go old school and aluminium can be welded with a flame. ( ie oxy-acetylene )
It can be done with MIG, but it is tricky too.
I got lucky and found a 1 year old machine on craigslist for $800, so keep your eyes open locally for deals.
To add to the diversion deal. The 165 comes with a Finger control torch, (no pedal) and it sucks, IMO.
I got more frustrated trying to learn to tig then i thought i would get in a million years. I still cant tig like a pro but i can get the job done. Not so good on aluminum tubing yet. But metals and aluminum plate, no problems for me.
If you think that a foot pedal is more right for you and dont want to spend the money on converting, Hobart EZtig 165 i think comes with a pedal instead.
on top of that i converted my Diversion over to an ultra flex hose and a WP9 torch and that made a HUGE difference for me.
best of luck, remember, cant go wrong with quality. It'll last.
I got more frustrated trying to learn to tig then i thought i would get in a million years. I still cant tig like a pro but i can get the job done. Not so good on aluminum tubing yet. But metals and aluminum plate, no problems for me.
If you think that a foot pedal is more right for you and dont want to spend the money on converting, Hobart EZtig 165 i think comes with a pedal instead.
on top of that i converted my Diversion over to an ultra flex hose and a WP9 torch and that made a HUGE difference for me.
best of luck, remember, cant go wrong with quality. It'll last.
To add to the diversion deal. The 165 comes with a Finger control torch, (no pedal) and it sucks, IMO.
I got more frustrated trying to learn to tig then i thought i would get in a million years. I still cant tig like a pro but i can get the job done. Not so good on aluminum tubing yet. But metals and aluminum plate, no problems for me.
If you think that a foot pedal is more right for you and dont want to spend the money on converting, Hobart EZtig 165 i think comes with a pedal instead.
on top of that i converted my Diversion over to an ultra flex hose and a WP9 torch and that made a HUGE difference for me.
best of luck, remember, cant go wrong with quality. It'll last.
I got more frustrated trying to learn to tig then i thought i would get in a million years. I still cant tig like a pro but i can get the job done. Not so good on aluminum tubing yet. But metals and aluminum plate, no problems for me.
If you think that a foot pedal is more right for you and dont want to spend the money on converting, Hobart EZtig 165 i think comes with a pedal instead.
on top of that i converted my Diversion over to an ultra flex hose and a WP9 torch and that made a HUGE difference for me.
best of luck, remember, cant go wrong with quality. It'll last.
IIRC the Miller Diversion 180 comes standard with the foot control, but costs a bit more.
These are inverter machines and aren't meant for big welding jobs, but are perfect for a budget and small jobs like turbo piping. My vote is definitely the Diversion 165 or Hobart 165. Either way it will save you a ton of money in the long run to weld on your own.....
Launching!
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 203
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From: Salem, OR
It will be very difficult to find even a used Tig for $500. I'd say make a couple more calls to local shops to find a better price... $300 isn't too bad IMO tho.
Welding cast aluminum is a whole other world, cast welds horrible and almost always cracks again.
Welding cast aluminum is a whole other world, cast welds horrible and almost always cracks again.
Longevity makes a nice budget unit that runs off 120/240v. You can run it off your dryer plug. It came with a pedal ( a must for the finish of the bead) and was about $700 new. The 160 was about $550 for the holiday sale last year.
I have the 200 amp version and the only issue I have is that you cannot vary the A/C freq and the torq gets really hot after a while. I have done 304, 308, 321 and alum with it so far. No issues really.
I highly suggest using http://www.radnor-e3.com/ for the tungsten. I use the same stick for all the metals I've had to weld.
I have the 200 amp version and the only issue I have is that you cannot vary the A/C freq and the torq gets really hot after a while. I have done 304, 308, 321 and alum with it so far. No issues really.
I highly suggest using http://www.radnor-e3.com/ for the tungsten. I use the same stick for all the metals I've had to weld.
If you are only going to do a lil project, forget buying a welder. Use this
http://durafix.com/
Here is the demo vid
Hell, even harbor freight has some.
http://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece...ods-44810.html
http://durafix.com/
Here is the demo vid
Hell, even harbor freight has some.
http://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece...ods-44810.html
DONT DO IT! I started in the same bot about 5-6 years ago and tried the spool gun with my MIG welder and it would do ok on thick stuff but on charge piping it just made a mess... Either buy a diversion 165 with a pedal and take a class from the local welding rep or supply shop or post up on craigslist looking for someone local to weld it for you. trust me you will be extremely frustrated with a spool gun, mine was a complete waste of money....