Anyone weld aluminum??

[GilpinFab]

Hi all,
I'm looking at the LS-160P /LS-200P and I'm curious if anyone has welded aluminum with one yet? I see what looks like a square wave switch right below the AC/DC switch, but the product manual is a little fuzzy on this. If this unit(s) can do a quality aluminum weld, it really is a low cost dream machine!

Thanks for any info,
Mark

[Gadget]

I have done some aluminum welding with my SL160p. Not enough to have the beautiful welds I have seen others do but the pieces are stuck together and will not come apart. Stick to high frequency AC pulse and keep enough argon flow to keep the weld clean. Also use a stainless brush to clean the metal before welding and don't use the brush for anything but aluminum. Start with high heat but drop is as you weld because the aluminum will hold the heat and require less current.
Gadget

[cracer250]

Check out my newest testimonial post. Just posted a video of my LS 160, AC Tig, 1/8" Aluminum. The thing really tig welds as good if not better than the Sycrowaves I have used. I'm really amazed at the weld quality. By the way, I'm comparing the weld quality to my Millermatic 210. I've used the LS 160 to weld engine cases, boat motor skags and more. Still functioning as good if not better than the day I bought it almost a year ago. Also, I've found that any 10N tig torch consumables work in the torch. So, I'd go buy the name brand collets and cups like I did.

[GilpinFab]

Thanks guys, this machine is looking better and better all the time.

Mark

BTW, thats not a bad looking weld.

[TLGwindpower]

I have the WSME-200 which is basicly the LW-200ACDC.
Since I got it hooked up a couple of weeks ago I have made several fusion welds with it on 1/16th inch and 1/8 inch Aluminum. A fusion weld is the way to learn if you don't know much about tig welding. It will allow you to learn to control your torch and develop a pattern, once you have that down it is just a matter of adding filler to your pattern.

I have done bevel welds on 3/16th inch Aluminum as well and they all turned out nice.
One thing I noticed while doing the smaller gauge material was the machines ability to turn down low (and I mean really low) and maintain integrity without having to change the adjustment of several knobs.
When you consider that normally when you buy a tig welder for Aluminum you generally have to buy a small unit for lighter gauge stuff, and a bigger unit for the heavier stuff, it makes this unit very affordable. I base that comment from working with other machines that cannot span such a wide range or output. Meaning that a big machine will not dial down low enough, and a little machine cannot dial up high enough.
This one can and will do both.
This machine here will dial down low enough that I would be willing to bet that you could weld pop cans with it. Then on the other hand you can change out the electrode and dial it up and weld some heavy gauge aluminum like 3/8 inch. It may be able to do heavier but then I would need Helium to prove that thought.

If you are going to get a machine you can't beat the price of Longevity's units and they work very well.

Terry Galyon: TLG Windpower Products.

[welder4]

A Tig welder can do wonders if it has square wave and that is a plus in the cleaning process , I welded Aluminum for 14 years and I worked with light gauge to heavy gauge . It was very tedious welding but I came to grow into a good heli-arc welder not only with the white mysterious metal but Stainless as well. so any one wanting to really weld this white metal I recommend the square wave welders. you can get small welds by running on the low side of the higher frequency it makes for a smaller weld and the higher the freq then the wider the weld, this was on miller and I don't have much experience with other machines . If any one has a question about aluminum I would be happy if I know to answer it. angle and heat are the most important items next to cleaning, the cleaner this metal the better the weld . If you brush the aluminum I would recommend that the weld take place as soon as possible ,it contaminates rather fast and if it can't be welded in the first 24 hours I would bush it again. A stainless brush is also the best tool to bush with. and do not brush any copper or brass with the bush as that will contaminate the welding process. also do not brush any rusty steel and then use it on aluminum.

[junes]

The syncrowaves go all the way to 5 amps ac no prob and there is no way your welding 3/8 aluminum with only 200 amps and no helium. Even with helium there no way unless ther is no mass to the parts.

[junes]

The millermatic welder is a mig if your comparing it to that that's not a really good thing. The one sinesual wave machies are great. The only difference is in the adjustable en and also a more stable arc which is due to the instant change from en to ep. In matter of fact the modern day square wave machines really are not. They are half sine and half square so you get the best of both worlds.

[KHK]

I have a 160P and have welded 3/8 in Al plate and up to 1/2 in small pieces. If the Al to be welded is large you will need plenty of power, or it will take a long time to weld it. On thin Al you can move quickly and get a good weld. The foot control is very versital, with plenty of control.

[junes]

Are talking with ac or dc and those sections have to be pretty small. I have welded tons of 3/8 and 1/2 and need everybit if my syncro. Even on1/4 to 3/8 I was in need of 250 amps all the time.