The Everyday Pocket Handbook for Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) of Aluminum

Number 8 in a series

Compiled as a useful tool for

on-the-job welding personnel by the

1

AWS Product Development Committee

Edited by Lee G. Kvidahl

Ingalls Shipbuilding

© 1998 by American Welding Society. All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America

NOTE: Although care was taken in choosing and presenting the data in this guide, AWS cannot guarantee that it is error free. Further, this guide is not intended to be an exhaustive treatment of the topic and therefore may not include all available information, including with respect to safety and health issues. By publishing this guide, AWS does not insure anyone using the information it contains against any liability or injury to property or persons arising from that use.

Table of Contents

Basic Safety Precautions 4

Typical Joint Geometries for Arc Welding

of Aluminum 6

Designations for Wrought Alloy Groups 9

Chemical Composition of Wrought Aluminum

Filler Metals 10

Typical Aluminum Filler Metal Properties

(As-Welded Condition) 11

Guide to the Selection of Filler Metal for General Purpose Welding 12

Influence of Shielding Gas on Weld Profile 15

Typical Procedures for Gas Metal Arc Welding of Groove Welds in Aluminum Alloys with

Argon Shielding 16

Typical Procedures for Gas Metal Arc Welding of Fillet Welds in Aluminum Alloys with

Argon Shielding 18

Typical Procedures for Flat Position Gas Metal Arc Welding Groove Welds in Aluminum

Alloys with Large Diameter Electrodes 19

Joint Geometry Types 21

Typical Procedures for Gas Metal Arc Welding of Fillet Welds in Aluminum Alloys with Large Diameter Electrodes and Argon

Shielding 22

Aluminum Welding Wire 23

Preparation of Aluminum for Welding 24

Storage of Base Metal 24

Storage of Consumables 24

Plate Edge Preparation 24

Cleaning Prior to Welding 24

Oxide Removal with Wire Brushing 25

Shielding Gas Purity 25

Tips to Make the Aluminum Welding Job

Easier 26

Troubleshooting 27

Basic Welding Symbols and Their Location Significance 28

Location of Elements of a Welding Symbol 30

Other Publications Available from AWS 31

Typical Joint Geometries for Arc Welding of Aluminum (Not to Scale)