EconoTig

[ryanjones2150]

I run argon on most all aluminum welds, but I have a cylinder of helium y-ed into my welding gas line to my machine as well. What I do when I need a little extra is turn my argon off, then turn both gases on and just float both balls in the flow meters. Works for me when I need a little more power.

[chub380]

I used to have one of those if I recall correctly I was thinking the tug output on ac was like 165 and dc was 160a I could be wrong tho sometimes I would preheat some mine seemed to weld 1/4 pretty well was it on a homeade cart

[H80N]

Pump some helium in there. Then you'll have a real beast

A helium mix will indeed give you bit more heat for a given amperage...

The tradeoff is that the mixes are more expensive to purchase and that you will have to run a higher flow rate...using up the bottle quicker

But it can get you over the hump if you are using a machine that is just a bit undersized for an aluminum job

Here are Jody's thoughts on the subject

http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/...ding-info.html

[OscarJr]

Pump some helium in there. Then you'll have a real beast

[H80N]

ok thanks, the aluminum tubing I was trying to weld with it years ago was thicke,r the whole 4ft long peace just got hot

The mass of an aluminum piece affect it too... Aluminum is an excellent conductor of heat...
the more mass.. the quicker it will suck the heat...
so you would have to compensate with more amperage or preheat...

[bigal]

ok thanks, the aluminum tubing I was trying to weld with it years ago was thicke,r the whole 4ft long peace just got hot

[H80N]

hello back in the mid 90's purchased and EconoTig used it a few times could get it to weld aluminum maybe it was to thick, so I sold it for $200.00 more than I paid for it. Yesterday the ex-wife of the guy I sold it to gave it back to me FREE, in the same condition that I sold it to this guy, still looks new and on a cart and a full bottle of argon. Question what is the thickest aluminum that can be welded with the EconoTig

The EconoTig was a 150amp machine... so your top is about a little less than 3/16 thickness..
maybe little more with some preheat

https://www.millerwelds.com/files/ow...s/O303_MIL.pdf

[bigal]

hello back in the mid 90's purchased and EconoTig used it a few times could get it to weld aluminum maybe it was to thick, so I sold it for $200.00 more than I paid for it. Yesterday the ex-wife of the guy I sold it to gave it back to me FREE, in the same condition that I sold it to this guy, still looks new and on a cart and a full bottle of argon. Question what is the thickest aluminum that can be welded with the EconoTig