oldbilbo
...
Some may be interested in this product, and the 'how to do it' vid. Comment by practical users invited....
http://tinyurl.com/pmlg27j
http://tinyurl.com/pmlg27j
Welding aluminium ( or even aluminum )
- Thread starter oldbilbo
- Start date
JSYmartini
Well-Known Member
With a working temperature of 392 celsius when aluminium has a melting point of 660 celsius, I'd suggest this isn't fusion welding at all, it's called soldering 
CreakyDecks
Well-Known Member
+1 for soldering.
You do wonder why they call it welding when it clearly isn't. It just sets off alarm bells when, for all I know, soldering might be a perfectly good way of joining aluminium together (although I think I'd prefer rivets!)
You do wonder why they call it welding when it clearly isn't. It just sets off alarm bells when, for all I know, soldering might be a perfectly good way of joining aluminium together (although I think I'd prefer rivets!)
Lakesailor
Well-Known Member
Just had some aluminium welding done on a gearbox. The bloke is a top engineering technician. He wouldn't be impressed.
oldbilbo
...
Right, then. Another one bites the dust.... 
30boat
N/A
This isn't welding it's more like brazing.Although the joins can be rather strong they're not suitable for the marine environment because of galvanic corrosion between the metals involved.
OGITD
Well-Known Member
As a rather large group of boat owners have (with advice from others) replaced their mild steel fuel tanks (which normally last 30+ years) with stainless ... there now appears to be evidence (backed up by a recent thread) that stainless is less suited for this purpose than first thought.
So I for one would like to see a test done .... at least join two Ali plates with Durafix rods, dangle them in the water (sea) for twelve-ish months, retrieve, brush & observe the results.
TQA
Well-Known Member
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I have used a similar product called technoweld www.techno-weld.com/
It is easy to use. I joined materials from coke cans to 1/4 in plate and repaired M/C crankcases. The results were satisfactory.
I don't know about the marine corrosion aspect though.
It is easy to use. I joined materials from coke cans to 1/4 in plate and repaired M/C crankcases. The results were satisfactory.
I don't know about the marine corrosion aspect though.
nigelmercier
RIP
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- Live in Kent, boat in Canary Islands
Listed as solder in MSDS, where they tend not to exaggerate.
http://www.durafix-easyweld.com/extras/MSDS_safety_sheet.pdf
http://www.durafix-easyweld.com/extras/MSDS_safety_sheet.pdf
Neil
Well-Known Member
I've used the equivalent (HTS2000) on a seagull, but in an area not normally subjected to immersion - and I haven't used the outboard enough anyway. It works well and provides a very strong joint, according to the video. Of course, if you paint over the repair, galvanic corrosion might not occur. I also wonder if the electrochemical potential is more or less than a sacrificial anode - in which case this might protect both the aluminium and the HTS2000?
Heckler
Well-Known Member
PBO had an article a while back, it works BUT any seawater and it melts!
Stu
Avocet
Well-Known Member
I've used it on a few car parts. It's "ok", but as others have said, it's more of a "solder" than a "weld". Interesting about the seawater issues.
Heckler
Well-Known Member
steadyeddy
Well-Known Member
Welding aluminium (or even aluminum
This is a very old method type of welding it was found that after a period of time the joint would corrode away due to the flux eating its way out .The only way to weld ally is to argon arc weld .
This is a very old method type of welding it was found that after a period of time the joint would corrode away due to the flux eating its way out .The only way to weld ally is to argon arc weld .
30boat
N/A
You can also weld it with a oxyacetylene torch but it requires a lot of skill and of course MIG with Argon .This is a very old method type of welding it was found that after a period of time the joint would corrode away due to the flux eating its way out .The only way to weld ally is to argon arc weld .
bigwow
Well-Known Member
I've only ever tried welding aluminium once, I ended up with a lovely silvery pool on the workshop floor.
Lakesailor
Well-Known Member
The gearbox I had repaired was done with Tig. It gave him more control over the rod and allowed him to use the arc to warm the metal before introducing the rod. The cooling down is apparently the tricky bit as cracks can occur.
As you can see, the mounting creates a lot of stress in the area. Previously the Imp engine was hung from the bellhousing without any mounts of it's own. There are just 4 lugs on the gearbox and it is mounted directly to the chassis without rubber. I have made some mounts for the new engine as well, so there are now 6 mounts in total.
cliff
Well-Known Member
Actually I would call it Brazing due to the higher working temperature ~400°C against 200~250°C for common lead/tin or lead free soldering -but what do I know?With a working temperature of 392 celsius when aluminium has a melting point of 660 celsius, I'd suggest this isn't fusion welding at all, it's called soldering
cliff
Well-Known Member
This is a very old method type of welding it was found that after a period of time the joint would corrode away due to the flux eating its way out .The only way to weld ally is to argon arc weld .
Oxy-Acetylene welding of Aluminium is relatively easy with the proper tip size, filler wire and dexterity though my preferred method is AC TIG with adjustable width AC (advanced squarewave) capabilities
concentrik
Well-Known Member
We tend to favour small pebbles round our way, but they still nick yer chips!
