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zsmith3rd(at)earthlink.ne
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 Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 11:23 am Post subject: welding aluminum |
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List,
First of all, I am NOT very good at welding aluminum.
That said, I did purchase a TIG welder three years ago, and learned to join various items.
As Larry mentioned, TIG is good. Takes practice and patience, and it helps if you can get some instruction.
An elderly fellow, who claimed he could weld magnesium to Dynamite, showed me the finer points of using a stainless steel brush to "clean, clean, and clean again".
Short version of this is: If it isn't clean, it won't TIG weld.
Seems that typical aluminum alloys melt at 1100 F while the oxide film you didn't clean off won't melt until about 3300 degrees F.
After you learn to run a continuous arc across a clean area, then move that arc to an area which still has the oxide film, you will quickly see the problem: The base metal will melt and run out while the oxide film just gets hot and only futher contaminates the puddle. Stainless steel brushes are a lot cheaper than 6061.
Helps to have an 'electronic' welding hood.....you can see exactly where you're about to make a mess before striking the arc.
I'd offer this: If you can weld steel, you can weld aluminum. You will have to un-learn a few things; the most obvious being that, unlike steel, the aluminum does NOT change color with heat.....it just changes from solid to liquid and ruins your day. The aluminun could be compared to electrical solder; it "flows" with sufficient heat. After you have melted several square feet of the 6061 you will develop an eye for this.
One other "tip" which I had to learn the hard way: Scrap aluminum picked up on construction sites, etc, is not good practice material. There is no way of knowing what was recycled to produce it. Cut-offs from door frames are examples. That stuff was made to be bolted, not welded. I'm not sure it is actually real aluminum.
Anyway, in summation, and according to the elderly fellow, if 'robots' can do it you can do it if you clean it immediately prior to welding. Waiting even a half-hour is too long.
Haven't tried welding two beer cans yet.
Regards,
Zed
absolutely do not archive stuff from Zed's Welding School!!
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Float Flyr
Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 2704
Location: Campbellton, Newfoundland
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| Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 10:21 am Post subject: welding aluminum |
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Chances are the scrap you picked up at the construction yard is pure
aluminium. Stuff used in aviation are exact alloys. The aviation stuff can
be tempered after welding if you have the proper heating equipment.
Noel
[quote] --
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