Ford new truck aluminum welding

[metal-doctor]

Wondering what everyone is using for a welder in the body shops to repair the new series for trucks on aluminum panels. Need recommendations for model of machine for one of our customers. They say no to tig. Must be aluminum wire feed. If Andy could help on this one would be great.

[aametalmaster]

MM350P for aluminum...Bob

[metal-doctor]

Thanks for reponse Bob but hoping to get a spoolgun to do the job. Any other options & your reasoning for the 350MP when only welding light material,

[aametalmaster]

Thanks for reponse Bob but hoping to get a spoolgun to do the job. Any other options & your reasoning for the 350MP when only welding light material,

Thats what this MM350P-alum package was designed for welding the new alum skinned trucks. Just my thoughts...Bob

[Olivero]

No TIG? Why not ?

[WillieB]

I'd imagine very little welding will be involved. New adhesives have taken the place of welding in many replacement panels. Red Neck fix it might involve TIG welding. I'd choose Dynasty.

Willie

[duaneb55]

Aluminum pop rivets.

[ryanjones2150]

Duct tape.

[griff01]

Thanks for reponse Bob but hoping to get a spoolgun to do the job. Any other options & your reasoning for the 350MP when only welding light material,

My bet is management wants a spool gun because they don't want to spring for a machine much better suited for the job at hand.

Griff

[WillieB]

Are we talking of very thin aluminum as in 18-16 gauge? You're a better man than I if you can do it with a spool gun.

Willie

[ryanjones2150]

Seems like the TV commercial says its "heavy duty" 16 ga. <br />
<br />
Otherwise, I have no idea.

[aametalmaster]

I have been aluminum spool gun welding for 39 years. There are lots of flavors of welders and spool guns to match. But none of them say they are suited for the new alum bodies. Must be a reason why. Not saying it can't be done and I haven't tried it but if I was shopping I would go with what will work best...Bob

[metal-doctor]

We actually tried an esab rebel with spoolgun the other day. Sent into the autobody experts at the the college to be checked and they said no good because panel broke beside the weld in destructive testing. Amperage adjustment allowed a pretty nice weld as far as looks. They said it failed because of porosity .when weld was ground down.I disaree because it broke beside weld So then they said must have a 350P or the equivalent to allow pulse welding. Porosity came from back side of panel because of primer. I do not know how you can properly clean the back side of panel when it is attatched to vehicle.You can clean the piece to be installed but not the remaining attatched side.Ang get this they want .047 filler. Don't know why we need a horse to pull the tail off a mouse!!!

[aametalmaster]

I can agree with bigger filler. Doesn't make sense for normal folks like us but it works. I ran a robotic welding cell making parts for Harley Davidson. We were having problems with burn thru and I said I would use smaller dia wire. We were using .035 and I said run .023. So they had the Foronis rep come in and he changed the wire to .045 I said it will never work. But it did and made a nicer weld. I never would have thought that...Bob

[metal-doctor]

Interesting guess I thought same as you but after 34 years welding I am still learning & accept advice. Thanks