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How to Weld Aluminium: A Complete Beginner’s Guide

Date: 04-03-2025
Welding Aluminium

How to Weld Aluminium - Alphaweld Insights


Welding aluminium can be a challenging but rewarding skill to learn. Due to its lightweight nature, corrosion resistance, and strength, aluminium is widely used in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and construction. However, welding aluminium requires different techniques compared to steel or other metals. In this beginners guide, we’ll cover the basics to help get you started.

Understanding Aluminium’s Properties

Before welding aluminium, it's crucial to understand its unique characteristics. Aluminium has high thermal conductivity, which means it conducts heat quickly and requires higher welding currents and precise heat control. Additionally, aluminium forms an oxide layer that melts at a much higher temperature than the base metal, which needs to be removed before welding. Aluminium has a lower melting point than steel, making it susceptible to burn-through if not handled correctly.

Choosing the Right Welding Process

There are several welding techniques, but the most common for aluminium are TIG (GTAW) welding, MIG (GMAW) welding, and STICK welding (SMAW). TIG welding is ideal for thin aluminium and high-precision work, requiring a tungsten electrode and pure argon gas. MIG welding is more suitable for thicker aluminium and uses a spool gun or push-pull system to feed aluminium wire efficiently. STICK welding, while less common for aluminium, is possible with special electrodes.

Essential Equipment & Safety


Equipment

A welding machine with AC capabilities is essential for TIG welding, while MIG welding requires the right settings. Pure argon is typically used as shielding gas, although helium can be added for deeper penetration. Choosing the right aluminium alloy filler wire, such as ER4045 or ER5356, is also important for ensuring strong welds.

Safety Precautions

Welders should always wear a welding helmet with proper shade protection, heat-resistant gloves, and a flame-resistant jacket. Ensuring proper ventilation is crucial to prevent exposure to harmful fumes that may arise during welding.

Preparing Aluminium for Welding

Proper preparation is key to successful aluminium welding. The surface should be cleaned using a stainless steel brush or acetone to remove oxidation and contaminants. Preheating the material up to 93°C can help reduce thermal shock and prevent cracking. Additionally, choosing the right joint design, such as butt joints, fillet joints, or lap joints, ensures optimal fusion.

Welding Techniques & Best Practices


Setting Up Your Machine

Adjusting the voltage, amperage, and wire feed speed based on material thickness is essential for achieving quality welds. When using TIG welding, AC current helps remove oxidation effectively. Learn more from our blog on MIG Welding: How to Correctly Set Your Machine Parameters.

Technique Tips

Maintaining a steady travel speed prevents overheating, while holding a consistent torch angle of about 10-15 degrees ensures better control over the weld. Excessive heat input should be avoided to prevent burn-through and warping of the material.

Post-Weld Considerations

After welding, it is important to clean the weld by removing residual oxides using a brush or chemical cleaner. Inspecting for defects such as porosity, cracks, or undercutting ensures the integrity of the weld. If needed, strength testing, including bend or stress tests, can be performed to confirm the durability of the weld.

Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

One common mistake is skipping pre-cleaning, which can result in weak welds due to the presence of oxides. Incorrect heat control is another issue - too much heat can cause burn-through, while too little results in poor fusion. Additionally, using the wrong filler material can lead to weak or brittle welds, so it is important to choose the right filler wire for the specific aluminium alloy being welded.

Contact the Experts

Welding aluminium takes practice, patience, and the right approach. By mastering aluminium welding, you open up new possibilities for fabrication and repair work, whether as a hobbyist or a professional welder!

If you need help getting started or guidance on the best gear for aluminium welding, Alphaweld is here for you. To speak with our team of experts, give us a call today on (08) 9456 8000 or contact us online.