Not really something I have intention of doing any time soon just wondering if anyone has tried it. I know you can buy ring kits, and some come with aluminum inner rings to be TIG'd to the alloy wheel.

No reason why not... I have considered it, but not pulled the trigger. I like the snowflakes, but I'm not sure I like 'em THAT much.

Randii

Is it really that bad to MIG aluminum?

My readywelder says it will do it but I've never tried. In class we only ever TIG'd for like 2 days (need a lot more practice than that) and I thought it was just because the wire would be a pain to change out of a dozen machines.

MIG, with the correct wire and gas is used widely on aluminum in the boat-building industry.

as Jim said, no, its not bad, but it is different and requires a very different setup which usually keeps away the average person only needing to weld aluminum very seldom.

the alum. wire is softer and doesn't like to be fed long distances through typical MIG guns w/o birdnesting... which is why a special spool gun is generally required (generally a few hundred bucks and requiring a compatable machine).

for those using a 75/25 shielding gas setup, aluminum requies 100% argon meaning changing out tanks.

alumn doesn't conduct electricity as well meaning its going to require more from your machine (usually requiring the bigger 220v machines).

also, good prep/cleaning work is cricual to remove oxidation that occurs on the alum before welding.

-Rob

aluminum doesn't conduct electricity as well as what, copper? Aluminum conducts electricity quite well. try touching a wire to an aluminum ladder while plugged into an outlet in the garage while you hold the ladder and see how well electricity is conducted through the aluminum!

Remember that older homes may still have some aluminum wiring instead of copper.

I don't think he said it "didn't" conduct electricity,
I believe he said it didn't conduct it "as well"... meaning
compared to other materials, such as steel or copper.
And he is exactly right. Aluminum does not conduct
electricity as well as the other materials...
Just because it was used in houses doesn't mean it does just
as good a job. It was done, because at the time, it was cheap.
In fact, in most all code now, aluminum is illegal to use
in residential wiring because it's too easy to over-heat.

Yes, since this was a discussion regarding MIG welding... I was comparing welding aluminum vs mild steel, the more common base material (at least in this circle) used with the MIG process.

and while i'm not arguing aluminum will carry a current, it does so much different than other metals... a characteristic important for welding. afterall, the current your welder outputs is very different from carry household current over an aluminum conductor.

-Rob

These would look sweet...

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