I recently bought a 230 volt, 130 amp Lincoln DC Stick/TIG welder that does just fine on welding aluminum. You guys might be thinking of welding 1/2" in a single pass. I got my all position certification a little while ago and i can tell you from experience that welding 1/2" in a single pass does require 200+ amps and a 3/16 or bigger rod. Most of the welders I have talked do not recommend welding that thick in one pass due to the massive heat build up leading to welding draw which can be a nightmare in itself. If you're really into trying to add a TIG torch to a stick welder take a look at some of the specialty rods they make for stick welders first. You can (believe it or not) stick weld aluminum with the appropriate rod. They make so many rods now it's scary. Just to give you an idea of what TIG costs, I paid $700 before taxes for a 130 amp Stick/Scratch Start TIG combo. I routinely weld 1/4 inch aluminum, I just make multiple passes. |