can i weld aluminum with a miller suitcase x-treme 8vs and 12vs?

[jerrybigbird]

i currently have a miller "the legend" aead-200le and was thinking of buying one of these suitcase mig guns. The 2012 miller catalog says they do not recommend using AC power sources with this product and i need something to run aluminum wire. Will one of these suitcase welders work? i know to tig weld aluminum HFAC is preffered..... whats the hook up procedure for aluminum mig? AC? DC? Reverse polarity or straight? thanks in advance



jerry

[aametalmaster]

NO your welder is a CC Constant Current you need a CV Constant Voltage machine so no matter what you hook up it won't work....Bob

[jerrybigbird]

NO your welder is a CC Constant Current you need a CV Constant Voltage machine so no matter what you hook up it won't work....Bob

The catalog says the suitcase 8rc and 12rc are for cv machines but the suitcase x-treme 8vs and 12vs is a cc/cv compatible machine


thanks again
jerry

[aametalmaster]

The catalog says the suitcase 8rc and 12rc are for cv machines but the suitcase x-treme 8vs and 12vs is a cc/cv compatible machine


thanks again
jerry

Sorry my bad. I do remember reading that but i don't really know about them. Bob

[aametalmaster]

So now if the feeder works with your machine you will be welding Aluminum without a spool gun. Thats a whole nuther problem...Bob

[jerrybigbird]

So now if the feeder works with your machine you will be welding Aluminum without a spool gun. Thats a whole nuther problem...Bob

actually a guy can buy superglaze er-4043 or er5356 in .030 and .035 diameters by the 1lb, 16lb and 20lb roll. they are both dcep wires.......why would i want a spool gun????????? arguments please

[aametalmaster]

why would i want a spool gun????????? arguments please

Pushing .030 alum wire in any flavor thru a long mig gun is an art in itself. Ever welded aluminum before? Just wondering....Bob

[jerrybigbird]

been welding for about 15 years but i really dont have any experience with aluminum........thats why i showed up here

[cruizer]

Extremely difficult to weld AL with a standard mig gun,not that it can't be done. It's just that you'll go through more wire (trash) than the actual weld. I don't recommend it without a spool gun.

[jerrybigbird]

Extremely difficult to weld AL with a standard mig gun,not that it can't be done. It's just that you'll go through more wire (trash) than the actual weld. I don't recommend it without a spool gun.

whats it do ??????knot up before it hits the liner?

[Cgotto6]

Pushing aluminum through a 10+ft hose doesn't work well. I wonder If there is a push pull gun you can use with the feeders you listed that were compatible with cc machines.

[jerrybigbird]

thanks a bunch ima look into that now

[cruizer]

Pushing aluminum through a 10+ft hose doesn't work well. I wonder If there is a push pull gun you can use with the feeders you listed that were compatible with cc machines.

Well, if you think welding with Aluminum with a mig gun is bad, try welding Aluminum with a CC only unit and a mig gun. If you can picture a mile of Alum wire in the garbage, and 2" of weld, you would be about right!

[cruizer]

whats it do ??????knot up before it hits the liner?

Knot up before it hits the linner, knot up in the liner, burn back contantly at the tip. A soon as there is a little bend in the gun liner, with slips and knots up.

Forget about it.

Besides as I mentioned in my last post. Aluminum won't even start on CC. You first need a CV machine.

[gnforge]

can i weld aluminum with a miller suitcase x-treme 8vs and 12vs?

Cruizer is right!!! Tried it many many years ago with a SP-200 & 10 ft cable. Got it to weld but more like 2 mile wire for 2 inch weld. Invest ur money on something that will work.