Liner trouble

[Chaz!]

Hi,

So i've been mig welding steel and stainless for around a year now and i'm relatively competent, i'm trying my hand at aluminium at the the moment and i was having alot of trouble with it 'birds nesting' down at the wire feed, i was told swapping the 0.8 tip for a 1.0 and using a teflon liner instead of my steel one would help, just got a liner and come to change it and it seems like it wont fit, although the pack implies that it will fit my welder, anyway heres the difference in ends

Do i need to swap something or will the new liner just not fit?
The old steel one screwed into the bottom of the connecting block in the gun, but the new one seems to have some kind of bayonet on it?

Sorry for the essay and any help appreciated!

 

[Wozzaaah]

What machine is it?
Post some photos of your torch connector, I reckon the one you've got isn't a standard 'euro' torch, it's probably a hard-wired one.
That new liner is a bog standard euro torch one and that brass piece is a collet, the liner just pushes up into the connector then you slip a nut over it afterwards which tightens the collet.

 

[Chaz!]

Its a clarke pro 90, here's a pic of the torch

 

[Wozzaaah]

That new liner won't fit unless you can make up some sort of nut to fit into that connector block.
Tbh, I probably wouldn't bother, you'll be on a hiding to nothing trying to weld alu with such a small welder.

 

[Chaz!]

Damn, okay well thanks for the info

Really? why? its only 1 or 2mm aluminium that needs welding and it works fine for stainless and mild in similar thickness'
That said alu seems ALOT more difficult, dunno if thats the welder or if it would be the same with any

 

[Wozzaaah]

The problem with welding alu is that everything you've ever learnt about welding steel pretty much goes out of the window.
The weld pool is quite difficult to establish and see and once it's there just a split second hesitation can result in a blow-through.
The wire speed and torch travel speed has to be much higher than when welding steel too, travel slightly too slow and the weld will slump through the parent metal.
It also generates a lot of smoke which makes it even more difficult to see what's going on.
Alu mig welding is very common but you tend to find the machines used are good-quality industrial ones.

 

[pedrobedro]

If you take the nylon tube out of your trigger block in the torch by pushing the locking collar and pulling the tube is the blue nylon the right size to push in it's place ? You have to try these things for yourself sometimes just to convince yourself, jump in both feet. Faint heart never won fair maiden and all that If you get that far remember to push the gun away from you or you get no gas cover and the weld comes out black.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Have another look at the photo Pedro, there is no push fitting on that liner, the end just screws into the gas valve block.
The opaque tube is the gas line so if the thread is the same and the OP could source a fitting that might work.

 

[pedrobedro]

Ah yes I see now, I've not been well you know . It wants something like a compression fitting with an olive to convert the end of the new liner or cut the end off an old metal liner and butcher the old tube out then glue or swage the new one in.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Tbh, given that the reason for the liner change is to attempt to weld alu with a Clarke Pro90 I wouldn't bother with the hassle.
Leave the steel liner in and use the machine for steel.

 

[Cobs]

Not sure if ebay listings are allowed (it's not mine!) but this might be helpful - it's listed for a Cebora 130 but I bet the fitting is the same for your machine:

ebay item no: 150740091659

 

[KemppiFrog]

Apart from the high feeds for AL. I am a bit confused, in the pic, the nylon/teflon tube does not line up with the neck of the torch? There seems to be another threaded hole, lower down, that is more in line. Am I missing something?
KF

 

[mike 109444]

Think you are KF the threaded hole is where he has taken his steel type liner out and hence the new teflon one with collet won't fit. The semi clear tube is the gas tube. I think that's correct