Flux Core Aluminum MIG wire?

I saw a 1lb spool of .030" Lincoln Electric KH513 welding wire at Lowes today. It said it was aluminum flux core wire. Does anyone have experience with this stuff?

PS Lowes has some welding stuff on clearance. The spool was $8, down from $12. The 125 flux core welder was marked down a little bit, and consumables like tips and nozzles were on sale too.

Putting kh513 into google brings back no mention of it being flux core.

Brief google research suggests that flux core aluminum wire doesn't exist.

Yeah, don't think that exists. I could be wrong, but I've never heard about it and aluminum is pretty picky about being shielded, so I doubt flux would do the job.

Also, you'll need some fancy additional hardware (spool gun, etc) to do aluminum with a MIG.

No such animal, flux core wire made of aluminum wouldnt be strong enough to feed through the welder.

Hmm, ok. Must have been in the wrong spot on the shelf. Glad I didn't buy it.........

My HF MIG does aluminum wire without a spool gun.

I just bought a welder and there was some literature about this spool gun for aluminum wire:

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/wire_feeders/spoolmate_200_series/

The spool is right next to the gun, for softer wire.

A few months ago I sold a spoolmatic with controller. Pretty neat setup but I couldn't use it as it needs CC/CV.

I've done aluminum with my Millermatic 175 with no spool gun. I laid out the projects so the lead was laid out mostly straight, limiting the friction the rollers were trying to push through.

I did, as recommended, keep a separate liner for aluminum work.

EDIT: To the OP's point, I think you're on the right track now with the understanding that there's no flux-core aluminum wire.

Aluminium flux-core wire has been tried in the past. First place I did an internship used to build the nose on Bombardier's trains, and the frame supporting the FG was made of welded aluminum. I know they tried some AL flux-core (from ESAB, I think but don't quote me on that). It worked with a spool gun, but they were having problems with weld quality (don't remember what it was).

What really killed it was the monetary aspect. The time saved by using flux-core was lessened by the more frequent spool changes, and that wire was expensive.

But with the developments in flux-core tech, I wouldn't be surprised to see someone try an aluminum flux-core wire again. They are starting to get good results with SS, and I personally think that flux-core should be the method of choice for roll-cage building nowadays. Mini rant over.

I was told by a Miller guy at a trade show that the problem is with Aluminum's flow characteristics. The burning flux which makes a "shield gas" for the weld works OK in steel alloys because steel has a sort of surface tension. Aluminum flows more like molten solder. Once its liquid, it has very little surface tension.

when the flux boils out of steel, it leaves carbon inclusions and porosity, but leaves the steel in place. With aluminum, it blows the aluminum away. Flux also burns pretty hot, and since heat control is so important with aluminum, it makes it hard to deal with.

I've got Arc welding rods for alum and the flux is thicker then the rod on all sides. I can't imagin flux on the inside core being able to make a cloud big enough to properly sheild.

Something I have always wanted. I think you would also have to revers the polarity of the welder.

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