DC ARC welding aluminum

[chuck hahn]

Guess this qualifies as a GENERAL / MAINTENANCE section topic....


Neighbor has offered use of his Lincoln ARC welder for doing any aluminum work if I should need it. Has anyone here used ARC welding on aluminum pieces such as a case cover or the cases themselves?? I know it has to be super clean and all that jazz. just wondering how it does and what rods you guys like.

[tom203]

Without a inert gas blanketing the work, you'll find it difficult especially on the thin stuff that you are considering.

[chuck hahn]

ARC welding uses rods that have the shielding coating...same as steel rods do. I posed the question to see if anyone has used this and if its worth me investing in rods before I go spending the money on some.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001735VDA/ref=dra_a_rv_ff_fx_it_P2000_1000?tag=dradisplay-20&ascsubtag=2068c887ffe73b034df478e63fd991b5_S&dra_hfr=1&dra_ohs=0-0

[JTGS850GL]

Use DC+ polarity and you'll need to run the amps a little higher then you would with steel. Aluminum dissipates heat much faster and acts like a heat sink pulling heat away from the weld area. Here are some good welding rods I've used in the past:

Zena Aluminum Welding rods

DC ARC welding is not best at doing anything aluminum less then 1/8" thick. Hope your neighbor is a good welder.

[tkent02]

Is this stuff really any good? I have a bunch of cracked cases and things to practice on....

[JTGS850GL]

It's worked for me in the past. Not sure if it's considered the best. I'm sure others with more recent experience will chime in.

Now using MIG and gas. Practice with aluminum is critical. I need to practice up each time I work with it since I don't do it that often.

[chuck hahn]

All I have for a MIG is a little 110V buzz box. To much to buy the spool kit and new liner for how often I would actually need to weld anything aluminum. Neighbor mentioned his so I figured make some enquiries into the DC rods.

[madmikeracing]

I think a TIG is the way to go. I would get a 170 amp min. for aluminumn. i bought a miller 100 amp and am considering heavier for aluminumn drawa the amps, I am NOT a welder but have friends that are nuclear certed, Man can they weld a bead!! I am still trying to get the tig I bought to do aluminumn nicely but im a hack. Later Mike (Dont have the time to spend on it too many gs bikes to fix!)

[tkent02]

The part I don't like about welding aluminum is when the whole thing melts and collapses into a puddle between your boots.

[tatu]

The part I don't like about welding aluminum is when the whole thing melts and collapses into a puddle between your boots.

My old Dad used to weld aluminium with his oxy-acetelene and he did it beautifully, he said that the trick was to clean the job perfectly and weld straight away, (Ally rods and flux as usual) because even touching it would be enough to form a layer in which the metal was melted inside a sack/bag and then it blobs out when you try to weld it. Just as you describe. He always had a lot of wire wool and scotchbrite about when he did those jobs.

I was shown this link by a friend that bought some of this stuff, he hasn't used it yet but we're all keen to see the results.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiThO-UQIWE

[Grimly]

The part I don't like about welding aluminum is when the whole thing melts and collapses into a puddle between your boots.

That, too.
I asked in a place where welders lurked, who was the best alloy welder in there. "Him there - he's an ally welding god", said one.
I handed the cracked oil filter housing to this bloke and watched as he totally ruined it with his oxy-ace torch, melting it on his bench.
I could have done better myself.

[bonanzadave]

That, too.I asked in a place where welders lurked, who was the best alloy welder in there. "Him there - he's an ally welding god", said one.
I handed the cracked oil filter housing to this bloke and watched as he totally ruined it with his oxy-ace torch, melting it on his bench.
I could have done better myself.

We have a TIG at work. Its an art. I can pass on .125 and up. Under that and Im blowing holes. I know a full time welder named Bill. We call him Billy TIGer. This kid is an artist ! Watching his foot on the pedal is amazing.

[Grimly]

Yeah, TIG is something I'd like to get the kit for and have a go at - the kit itself isn't all that much of an outlay nowadays, but the upkeep of pure argon gas and rental agreement on the bottle is something I can't justify for something I'd use twice a year, if that. Same applies to MIG and ally - the unused bottle ticking over on rental contract for no purpose. So, if I do start sticking bits of ally together it will likely be with the zinc-based solder sticks and see how it goes.

[tatu]

Yeah, TIG is something I'd like to get the kit for and have a go at - the kit itself isn't all that much of an outlay nowadays, but the upkeep of pure argon gas and rental agreement on the bottle is something I can't justify for something I'd use twice a year, if that. Same applies to MIG and ally - the unused bottle ticking over on rental contract for no purpose. So, if I do start sticking bits of ally together it will likely be with the zinc-based solder sticks and see how it goes.

There are rent free bottled gas suppliers on the net, I forget which one supplies me, but how it works is that you put a deposit on the initial bottle then you pay for only the refills thereafter till you want to cash it in and then they return your deposit. You cant buy Acetylene this way but there is an alternative which is as good, I forget what its called.

I use the gas infrequently but it is just so handy having it there, My supplier delivers and collects. I use 'cougar' for the mig with the same snap connectors so that it also can be used on the tig.

[Lorenzo]

but there is an alternative which is as good, I forget what its called.

MAPP gas?
Also propane will work, if you are to braze solder.
For that I would recommend to flux the part/s
Sorry, no help for the OP and is question (although I deem it not worth the hassle, even if it were free).