Welding Aluminum

[john in la]

With the price of a mig welder in mind what do you guys think of this for a backyard garage helper when on a cracker box ac welder is all you have now.
Aluminum Welding Brazing and Soldering with a Hand Held Torch

 

[Stan in Oly, WA]

John,

I've seen a lot of very compelling arguments (and an even greater number of ignorant opinions) expressed in answer to the question, "If you could only have one welder, what would it be?" The truth is, there's no best type of welder, although there might be a best welder for your particular needs. Every type of welder does one thing, or a few things, better than other welders, and does other things fair, poorly, or not at all. Try to specify, as precisely as you can, what you need a welder for, and what you expect to be able to do with it---for yourself if not for this forum. The more you can narrow it down, the more likely it is that you can find a welder to meet your needs.

Stan

 

[george md]

John,

Muggy weld is copying what eutectic ,
postle, and colomonoy did many years ago but
with much higher prices. Their cast iron rod
is about ten times what it is worth.

I have had gas weld alum rod for 30 years and
it does work, best flux was from postle as it
shows color change when the temp is near to
melting temp.

george

 

[john in la]

I have a A/C-225 Lincoln cracker box welder and a acetylene torch.
This suits my needs 99% of the time.

But every now and then I need something different welded.
Like right now. I could sure use a battery tray made out of some small angle aluminum in my boat that is made out of 5086 Marine Grade Aluminum.
Yes I could haul the boat to town; leave it with a welding shop; and pick it up later after paying a nice size bill.
Or I could go out and spend big bucks on a welder and do it myself.
Or I could ask what you think about the product in the link.

 

[Tom from Buckeye Lake]

John,know how you feel. Just hate when you get answers to a post that don't relate to your question.

I too, could use a answer to the subject. I have the same equipment as you and need to weld some leaks on my pontoons. Just a few pinholes. Weld shop wants my first born Grandchild.

 

[riccumming]

just google alumaloy its not so expensave it works great I have used it for 20 years and its never failed me

 

[Stan in Oly, WA]

Sorry, John. I looked at the product in the link and still managed to misunderstand the question. I don't like it when people answer a different question than the one I asked, either, so I'm embarrassed to be guilty of it myself.

Stan

 

[MarkB_MI]

Understand that with this product you are brazing, not welding. Depending on what it is you need to do, it might be fine.

I've played around with gas welding aluminum using my oxyacetylene torch, flux from Tinman Tech, and TIG filler rod. I think with a bit more practice I could do acceptable repairs. Gas welding makes a very flat, smooth bead.

 

[john in la]

I noticed after looking at the Tinman Tech site they have Instructional DVDs for sale and or rent. You can rent the DVD and if you like it they will put your rental cost against the purchase price.
Sounds Like a good place for me to start.
Thanks

 

[MarkB_MI]

John, the Tinman Tech stuff tends to be expensive. For example, their glasses for welding aluminum cost over 200 bucks; I bought a pair of didyminium glassworkers glasses off eBay for around thirty bucks. I happened to pick up a jar of their flux for cheap at the Oshkosh "Fly Market", but you can probably get All-State Brazaloy 35 locally. That said, they have a lot of good information on working aluminum on their site. Check out their articles page.
Tinman articles

 

[Stan in Oly, WA]

Mark,

I didn't know that oxy-acetylene welding of aluminum required unusual safety glasses. What is there about it that makes them necessary? I have a Tin Man tape (VHS) that a friend gave me about ten years ago, and I don't know how old it was then. I don't remember him selling any products when that was filmed, other than instructional videos, and the equipment he was using had a slightly makeshift appearance. But I'm assuming that if he now asks $200 for a pair of safety glasses, he at least has some explanation for why they would be necessary. And if you saw fit to hunt down and buy a reduced price pair of glassworkers' glasses, there must be some benefit they provide beyond the protection you'd get from a regular pair of shade 5 safety glasses.

Stan

 

[MarkB_MI]

Hi Stan,

Yes, that is something very important to understand when you're gas welding aluminum. The issue is the yellow sodium flare produced by the flux you use. It is at a wavelength that is not blocked by standard welding lenses, and I'm told exposure to it can lead to cataracts and other eye problems.

As far as the TM Tech glasses go, I think they block the yellow flare like didymium, but are quite a bit darker. The didymium glasses I have are not particularly dark.