Great catch! The gas stays the same—argon is king for both TIG (tungsten inert gas) and MIG (metal inert gas) welding aluminum. However, the way you use it is slightly different. For TIG, you’ll be feeding a filler rod by hand, and pure argon keeps the tungsten electrode from burning up. For MIG, you’ll need a special aluminum wire and a spool gun, but the gas is still 100% argon.
What Type Of Gas Is Used For Aluminum Welding at Jill Farris blog
Think of it like this: TIG is like painting a masterpiece with a fine brush—slow, precise, and forgiving. MIG is like using a spray can—fast, messy, and requires a steady hand. But both need the same gas: argon. It’s the universal translator for aluminum.
Okay, but what about flow rate? Is that a thing?
You bet it is! You don’t just hook up the tank and let ‘er rip. For aluminum, you typically run your argon at 15-20 cubic feet per hour (CFH). Too little gas, and you’ll get ugly oxidation that looks like a dirty windshield. Too much, and you’re just wasting money—and creating a noisy, turbulent gas stream that actually sucks in air.
Here’s a fun comparison: imagine you’re blowing out birthday candles. A gentle, steady puff works perfectly—that’s 15 CFH. If you blow like a hurricane, you’ll scatter the cake. Your argon flow should be that steady, quiet breath that protects your weld pool without making a scene.
