38 Lab Tips: Aluminum

For safety purposes, remember that the welding machines will run hot; be aware of your surroundings.

When welding with aluminum, start with the following settings:

• 21 volts
• 220 wirespeed
• 30ish gas

Because aluminum will stay hot for longer than steel, you can’t weld one side and then immediately do the other side. Instead, have a few pieces set up to work on at the same time, giving your welds time to cool before returning to a given piece.

Also be wary of bird nesting as you weld; having to stop to untangle your wire will drag everything to a halt.