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welding experts! 4043 or 5056 and what gas?
Posted: May 6th, 2008, 2:54 pm
by dannygraves
they say the 4043 is better for 6000 series, but 5056 is more MIG feeder friendly. I can't find a spooler gun for my welder, but read about a few guys welding aluminum using the standard feeder. Gonna buy my regulator and an empty tank tomorrow. There is a place called airgas that my work buys all their gas from, so I can get a deal. Should I do all argon, or an argon hydrogen mix? co2 mix?
I'm only looking to use this to tack and for exhaust hangers and other non stuctural welds. I figure what I spend setting myself up to mig AL is less than I will pay the welder to do all the little stuff and I will be setup to fix future cracked subframes and broken exhaust mounts, etc.
Posted: May 6th, 2008, 4:03 pm
by TJC510
4043 is better for mig using the standard feeder, but you need to use a plastic liner if you use the standard feeder. plus it won't contaminate the wire.
straight argon or argon/helium mix is what you need, an argon/co2 mix won't work. one thing you need to do with the standard feeder, is change out the drive roller to one that is smooth, most are a serrated roller to grip better, but it'll score the aluminum and will cause particules to clog the liner. i couldn't find one for my little mig, so i just turned the tention way down. it was better, but didn't stop it.
Posted: May 7th, 2008, 7:01 am
by dannygraves
cool, thanks dude!
Posted: May 8th, 2008, 1:41 pm
by dannygraves
ok, I picked up all the stuff I need today (its nice working for a construction company
)
I got a nice harris regulator and hose for FREE, and paid $101 for a tank already filled and a roll of wire. I'm good to go. Now my question is about wire diameter.
My MIG has tips for .023, .030 and .035
I just grabed the .035, but before I open it, I was wondering if another size would be better...
From what I've read, the smaller the better unless the material is really thick and since I have a pretty weak welder I'm wondering if thinner would be better to keep the heat down and the load on the welder down. But I also wonder with using the built in feeder if the thinner wire will be more likely to have feeding issues. I haven't opened it yet, so I could take it back.
Thanks
Posted: May 8th, 2008, 5:48 pm
by teemtrubble
I prefer 4043 wire and no bigger than .030 wire for those smaller welders and Argon/Helium 25%
Posted: May 8th, 2008, 6:49 pm
by dannygraves
thanks Mike! cool, then I will return it tomorrow and get the .030 thats the size I was already using for flux anyway.
Posted: May 8th, 2008, 6:50 pm
by dannygraves
I got %100 argon because thats what they already had, and I figure I can use it for steel as well later.