How to Weld Aluminum With a LEW6923 MIG Pak 10
The Metal Inert Gas (MIG) Pak 10 model welding machine manufactured by the Lincoln Electric Welding Company is a compact welder that is adaptable for both solid-core gas-shielded arc welding (GMAW) as well as flux-core arc welding (FCAW). Because aluminum is a softer metal with greater heat transfer properties, you will need to weld at lower temperatures and with a pure argon shielding gas. Additionally, you must install the aluminum welding modification kit to allow you to work with softer aluminum welding wire. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Lincoln Electric Aluminum Welding Kit
- Aluminum welding wire
- 100 percent Argon shielding gas
- Welding clamps
- Wire brush
- Welder's mask and gloves
Instructions
-
Install the Aluminum Kit and Shielding Gas
-
1
Unplug the steel welding torch from the front of the MIG Pak 10 welder by pulling it away from the face plate of the machine and replace it with the aluminum MIG torch.
-
2
Open the access hatch on the right side of the welder and pull the steel MIG wire off of the spindle.
-
-
3
Lift the tensioning arm up from the wire feeder and pull the steel wire feeding roller up and out of the feeding mechanism.
-
4
Snap in the aluminum wire feeding roller and place a roll of solid core aluminum MIG wire on the spindle with the wire being pulled from the top of the roll.
-
5
Feed the aluminum wire through the back of the face-plate into the hose of the MIG torch.
-
6
Lower the tensioning arm and close the side hatch to the welder.
-
7
Turn on the welder and pull the torch trigger to feed wire out the end of the torch gun.
-
8
Disconnect the steel welding shielding gas from the gas line and attach the 100 percent argon-shielding gas to the MIG welding machine. This will complete the conversion to aluminum welding.
Weld the Aluminum
-
9
Clamp the parent metals that you are welding into the configuration you want to weld them. This will prevent them from moving while you are welding.
-
10
Brush the edges of the parent pieces quickly along the welding seams to remove any paint, corrosion or dirt.
-
11
Place your welding torch about 1/8 of an inch from the parent metal and pull the torch trigger to create an arc weld.
-
12
Slowly move the weld in a circular or zig-zag pattern along the weld seam. This back-and-forth motion of the welding process will help mix the parent metals and filler metal together to create a solid sheet.
-
13
Continue welding until you reach the end of the seam. Be sure to hold the torch at the edge for a few extra seconds to create a welding pool that will fill into the edge of the seam.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Practice welding several seams on scrap aluminum before starting your project. Welding aluminum is more difficult than welding steel since it is a softer metal and therefore easier to burn a hole though.
Always wear a welder's mask and gloves while welding.
Do not weld near or while wearing flammable materials.
Always weld in a well-ventilated area.
References
- Photo Credit welding image by glgec from Fotolia.com
