Need some pros & cons in buying spool gun VS an AC machine.

[Rambozo]

It appears that the AC for aluminum is for more cosmetic precise work...

Any thought and suggestions will be helpful.

Yes the TIG process with AC is a more precise and potentially more cosmetic process for welding aluminum. It also requires a bit more skill and practice. Aluminum in general will require more practice to get quality welds. It is much less forgiving than steel as far as settings and technique. For typical farm duty a spoolgun using MIG is probably the way to go. Don't bother going down the teflon liner and short gun route, as a novice it will cause you nothing but grief. I would advise that you get more steel MIG welding under your belt, before switching to aluminum. The skills you acquire will go a long way to a better first experience with aluminum.

[hcforde]

Yes the TIG process with AC is a more precise and potentially more cosmetic process for welding aluminum. It also requires a bit more skill and practice. Aluminum in general will require more practice to get quality welds. It is much less forgiving than steel as far as settings and technique. For typical farm duty a spoolgun using MIG is probably the way to go. Don't bother going down the teflon liner and short gun route, as a novice it will cause you nothing but grief. I would advise that you get more steel MIG welding under your belt, before switching to aluminum. The skills you acquire will go a long way to a better first experience with aluminum.

Thanks for your reply and being on topic with the concern that I have.

Concerning making these 4' * 8' troughs, they will be 12" high and filled with water to about 8" . what thickness of aluminum should I be looking at. I know I will have to reinforce the sides longitudinally . The bottom (outside)will have a 1/2" 4'*8' OSB for support.

Thanks, as a novice you always second guess yourself especially when you make a last minute change. I additional reasons I chose the MTS 251si (over the 200DV) is because of greater power, longer duty cycle, and it seems like Mig will be faster when I start doing aluminum over the TIG aluminum process. It is probably way more machine than I will need and I most likely will never outgrow its capabilities I again thank you for your reply.

[Rambozo]

Thanks for your reply and being on topic with the concern that I have.

Concerning making these 4' * 8' troughs, they will be 12" high and filled with water to about 8" . what thickness of aluminum should I be looking at. I know I will have to reinforce the sides longitudinally . The bottom (outside)will have a 1/2" 4'*8' OSB for support.

Thanks, as a novice you always second guess yourself especially when you make a last minute change. I additional reasons I chose the MTS 251si (over the 200DV) is because of greater power, longer duty cycle, and it seems like Mig will be faster when I start doing aluminum over the TIG aluminum process. It is probably way more machine than I will need and I most likely will never outgrow its capabilities I again thank you for your reply.

Well that's over half a ton of water. The real trick will be what tools you have on hand to form the sides. If you can do some bending, you can make the sides stiff enough to be self supporting, otherwise you will need a frame or pretty thick material to make that out of. Also there is a difference between making a strong serviceable weld, and making a water tight weld. The later is a hell of a lot harder. However, you might actually find it easier to weld thicker materials, than what is required. If you can make them circular, it would work with a lot thinner material as the forces involved would be in balance. Also if they will be subject to other forces, that can have a big impact on how tough they need to be. Farm items always seem to get rough service, from people and animals. What you're describing is basically a small flat bottom aluminum bass boat. If that would do the job, you will be looking at about the same materials and techniques. Like a rolled gunnel or some tubing at the top, and thin sheet sides and bottom.

[everlastsupport]

Looks like you picked the right welder for the job, TIG is a slower process and takes time to learn for most. You will be shocked at how well MIG will do aluminum. And Post 8 (Rams) is spot on, skip the teflon route, put the money towards the spool gun.

We sometimes use the spool gun for steel, just to have twice the hose length, like if you need to get to the other side of a trailer without turning the trailer around or moving the welder around. Or you could also make up an extension cord. What are the troughs for, animals?

[hcforde]

Looks like you picked the right welder for the job, TIG is a slower process and takes time to learn for most. You will be shocked at how well MIG will do aluminum. And Post 8 (Rams) is spot on, skip the teflon route, put the money towards the spool gun.

We sometimes use the spool gun for steel, just to have twice the hose length, like if you need to get to the other side of a trailer without turning the trailer around or moving the welder around. Or you could also make up an extension cord. What are the troughs for, animals?

They are for Hydroponic grow beds

[zoama]

If your welds don't hold water you could seal the joints with many different products like http://www.shop3m.com/3m-window-weld...cartridge.html Costs about $25 a tube at your local auto parts store but you have to ask for it. Most stores don't put it out on the shelf. I've repaired fwd motor mounts with it. Super strong bond. I believe you could just cut out the pieces and glue them together with that stuff. 8" of water will produce very little hydraulic pressure.

[Rambozo]

You may have to coat the tanks, anyway. Aluminum can and will react with a lot of the chemicals used in fertilizers. It might not be the ideal material for that application. Fiberglass, on the other hand works great and is pretty easy to work with from a DIY aspect.

[everlastsupport]

We did not use chemical fertilizers when my son went into the hydo veggie green house hobby mode. Fish did the work for us. But we did use clean 55 gallon plastic drums (cut in 1/2) for the drain fields and 2 very large in-ground plastic ponds to make ours. So ours was all plastic. Used PVC for the green house frame and clear roll out plastic to cover and seal it.

I love 3M stuff, but make sure it does not leech any chemicals. There is a 5200 marine stuff you can get too (home depot has it). Expensive though, jamestown distributors seems to have it cheaper.

[hcforde]

Well that's over half a ton of water. The real trick will be what tools you have on hand to form the sides. If you can do some bending, you can make the sides stiff enough to be self supporting, otherwise you will need a frame or pretty thick material to make that out of. Also there is a difference between making a strong serviceable weld, and making a water tight weld. The later is a hell of a lot harder. However, you might actually find it easier to weld thicker materials, than what is required. If you can make them circular, it would work with a lot thinner material as the forces involved would be in balance. Also if they will be subject to other forces, that can have a big impact on how tough they need to be. Farm items always seem to get rough service, from people and animals. What you're describing is basically a small flat bottom aluminum bass boat. If that would do the job, you will be looking at about the same materials and techniques. Like a rolled gunnel or some tubing at the top, and thin sheet sides and bottom.

These will be used in a protected environment in a greenhouse. no animals around. Making it watertight being more difficult is not something I had thought of. Especially me being a novice though that makes sense because I do not have the skills for good penetration as of yet.