Welding Aluminum?

[Brains 2]

Has anyone here ever done it? I think it must be like voodoo magic or something. I can weld most anything and i felt like a short bus rider trying to weld aluminum plate.

Never look down on someone, unless they are going down on you.

[IanHarrop 42]

A Guide to Aluminum Welding

http://www.lincolnelectric.com/knowledge/articles/content/alum.asp

"Where troubles melt like lemon drops, away above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me" Dorothy

[Peej 0]

Forget Ian's welding link, just ask Andy Copeland, i hear he's an expert!

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[monkycndo 0]

With a TIG and filler rod, use the "reach and set" method. I've only tried it a few times and decided steel is much more fun to weld.

50 donations so far. Give it a try.

You know you want to spank it
Jump an Infinity

[Andy_Copland 0]

I got the UV burns to proove it!

1338

People aint made of nothin' but water and shit.

Until morale improves, the beatings will continue.

[Remster 30]

Cant you use Crazy Glue?

Remster

[CSpenceFLY 1]

I was never very good at it.What are you using to weld with?


.

[jumpjunkie 0]

I know you have plenty of duck, I mean duct, tape laying around the shop. It'll hold anything.

Tubing, so easy a caveman can do it.

[Brains 2]

Quote

A Guide to Aluminum Welding

http://www.lincolnelectric.com/knowledge/articles/content/alum.asp

Thanks! There were many many things i was doing wrong

Never look down on someone, unless they are going down on you.

[Cloggy 1]

What are you using? Stick electrodes?

For aluminium plate try to get hold of a pulsed MIG welder. I welded some 5mm thick plate and tube with that (a long time ago). I found that fairly easy to do and that turned out looking not too nasty. But a pro-welder helped me to set all the parameters on the machine, I wouldn't have a clue to do that myself. As I understood the pulsed welding allows you to weld at a lower temperature, not overheating the material (very important with aluminium). Otherwise you could use TIG (AC!).

[Lindercles 0]

The only true way to win in the aluminum racket is to get a fourth truck the weekend before Mother's Day, but even that's been tried and failed.

[Royd 0]

Did it for about four years in the mid 80's.
Mostly square tubing, building prefabricated greenhouse.

Alot of fun. Much cleaner and cooler than steel. I really just like the pretty blue light.
The quality of the welds really improves if you've got a foot pedal control. You can back the heat off as the weld gets longer. It keeps the bead even.

[greybeard 0]

Beer cans and foil containers are the best test. I've seen it done with stick!. Tig makes it easy for anybody.

Patch a broken heart and stitch up the crack of dawn.

[akarunway 1]

1 lb. hand held spool gun. Only way to go

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

[Royd 0]

Quote

Beer cans and foil containers are the best test. I've seen it done with stick!. Tig makes it easy for anybody.

I used TIG with hand fed rods.

[greybeard 0]

I've been away from it for awhile. I have only used tig with hand held rod. See how old I am.

I was remembering brazing tin cans. Stick and O/A.

Probably got a computer robot to do it now.

[VectorBoy 0]

I do it all the time. I only do it with the TIG process. I know geezers say they can do it with a gas torch but that looks like bird turd. And its why the TIG Process was invented in the 40's.

Little MIG buzz boxes can't do it, the bond is weak. You can do it with an expensive pulse MIG machine but the wire has to be pulled at the gun ( big wire spool gun ) and in the end it still looks like a MIG job, AKA a big point and shoot robot.

Cleanliness : everything, base metal, filler rods and associated tools have to totally cleaned. I have dedicated tools for use so as not to get bits or other metals in there grinding wheels for tungston, wire brushes etc. Melted AL is porous and will suck in any impurity.
In doing steals you can use solvents: acetone,thinners etc. NOT in Aluminum, no VOCs! You can use degreasers like simple green or dishwashing soap and these must be completely rinsed with clean water and dry.
Wave balance controls will help with penetration Vs purity but they are not a requirement.

You have to be a pig for comfort. And it helps if you have experience acetelene welding steals because the TEMP control is similar although not as forgiving with Aluminum. Hope this helps.

[mx757 4]

steals minus 20 points

Steels is correct word....

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

It's actually not a big deal at all so long as you have a spool for a mig.

[jasonRose 0]

Quote

For aluminium plate try to get hold of a pulsed MIG welder. I welded some 5mm thick plate and tube with that (a long time ago). I found that fairly easy to do and that turned out looking not too nasty. But a pro-welder helped me to set all the parameters on the machine, I wouldn't have a clue to do that myself. As I understood the pulsed welding allows you to weld at a lower temperature, not overheating the material (very important with aluminium). Otherwise you could use TIG (AC!).

Agreed!! I have to tig aluminium all the time and for people that have little to no time on a tig machine a wire feed can improve their results.

Remember that you have to switch gas to straight argon and make sure you are properly set up with aluminum wire and proper gun.

If you are tig welding ball your electrode on DC+ prior to starting then switch to AC with High Freq.

Some day I will have the best staff in the world!!!

[greybeard 0]

are you calling me a gueezer, punk?

Argon is noble and so am I.

My ac and stick glue jobs were the 'cats meow' back in the day. Damn pretty to my eyes.

Still patching broken hearts and stiching the crack of dawn.

[Broke 0]

It is a lot easier with a TIG

Divot your source for all things Hillbilly.
Anvil Brother 84
SCR 14192

[Broke 0]

Quote

Cant you use Crazy Glue?

Auctually with the new adheasive technology out there you can bond metal together without ever welding. You can even bond dissimilar metals with ease, or even Metal to Carbon Fiber. That is afterall how they put planes together now.

Divot your source for all things Hillbilly.
Anvil Brother 84
SCR 14192

[lekstrom10k 0]

If you are going to TIG make sure you have the biggest tungsten you can get in your torch handle also the biggesat collar that fits your cinditions { fillet , flat or butt .A green painted identifier tungsten works best over red 2% .get copper bar stock to strike an arc on to ball the tip round ,aim the tip towards the thickest metal strike your arc and wait until it starts to flow dip your rod in and let it fill the gap then bring the torch down the line asyou go . easy huh if you are welding 3/8 ti 1/4 you can preheat with a propane torch some .Ihope this helps ,my son wants to go to bed, good night.

[racer42 0]

Quote

Has anyone here ever done it? I think it must be like voodoo magic or something. I can weld most anything and i felt like a short bus rider trying to weld aluminum plate.

I thought your leg was healing up well. Do you think all this welding is necessary?
Just take it slow the first few jumps.

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