Welding Aluminum Sheet Metal

Short bursts or tacks will help you gain more control and adjust easily.

Welding aluminum sheet metal.

A 5356 filler metal also works for 5052 materials specifically. There are many factors to consider when selecting the best filler metal for welding aluminum sheet metal. Aluminum alloysmelt at a wide range of temperatures from about 1 075 to 1 450 degrees f so some filler materials will braze one alloy while welding another. Aluminum oxide on the surface of the material melts at 3 700 f while the base material aluminum underneath will melt at 1 200 f.

Types of aluminum welding. There is a rule of thumb that one amp per one thousandths of thickness up to around 125 will get you pretty close. Well for aluminum you might need as much as 1 5 amps per thou. Techniques for welding sheet metal.

And weld those alloys that melt at roughly less than 1 275 degrees f. The more time the arc is in an area the hotter it becomes. Gas tungsten arc welding gtaw also known as tungsten inert gas tig welding is one of the most popular welding processes chosen for aluminum. Thus spot welding diameters go from 3mm to 12 5mm.

For aluminum welding you will want to the same grade or as close as possible as the parent material. To weld aluminum operators must take care to clean the base material and remove any aluminum oxide and hydrocarbon contamination from oils or cutting solvents. The two most common aluminum filler metals are 4043 and 5356 and they produce very different results when welding sheet metal. If you re wondering how to weld aluminum it s important to know that there are several welding processes that can be used.

If a chosen filler metal melts at 1 250 degrees f for instance it will braze alloys that melt at greater than approximately l 325 degrees f. These include the base metal alloy service temperature and environment formability and more. Typical aluminum alloys for sheet fabrication are 3003 and 5052. This is because the strength of the joints depends on the number and size of the weld.

This helps to keep the oxidation out of the puddle when you re welding. You can make a little tray and rotate the rod in it before welding. But as it heats up you back off to much less than that. But 1 5 amps per thousandths along with a foot pedal is usually close enough.

Unlike tig welding you will need to use a flux paste on your welding rod so you get a clean weld. Spot welding is usually used to join a panel of overlapping sheet metal parts that are usually 3mm thick. Its primary usage is in welding auto body and sheet metal. This welding technique is often used by automotive enthusiasts and welders for professional racing teams.

The ration of thickness should not exceed 3 1mm. To prevent burn through and warping don t whip or weave the torch. For sheet metal i use ine welding wire and it is just as good as their flux cored wire if you want you can grab one here.