Anyone used aluminium welding rods with propane torch?

[Tinkerer(ghost)]

Durafix is one brand but there's others.<br /><br />Supposed to be easy to weld aluminium with just a propane torch. Mate says he saw bloke demonstrating one on aluminium drink cans and bloke said he wasn't a trained welder. <br /><br />I've got arc and can blow a hole in anything under 3mm just by looking at it. Who needs oxy cutting? I've got mig and I can make lovely heaps of ragged slag on anything. Sometimes I even manage to join metal. They were supposed to be easy too. People I know say aluminium welding is difficult and an art. <br /> <br />Anyone got any experience with these rods? I'm sceptical.

 

[ehenry]

Re: Anyone used aluminium welding rods with propane torch?

I've used these rods and at most they are a temporary fix. You aren't really welding with them, you're brazing with them and there's a difference. When welding you're melting two pieces of metal and adding a third to cause them to become one. In brazing you're heating the metal to the point where it will melt your rod, causing it to adhear to the metal being heated. Heat your aluminum too hot and when you touch the rod to it you've got a larger hole than when you started. You can patch small holes and some cracks. I would use them in an emergency situtation but not as a permanent fix. Just my two cents worth.

 

[boating brad]

Re: Anyone used aluminium welding rods with propane torch?

efhenry is absolutely right, those aluminum sticks are crap! and i'll tell you, i welded for 12yrs and i cant braze a beer can!

 

[denniz]

Re: Anyone used aluminium welding rods with propane torch?

They work great on beer cans cause they are easy to heat. trying to fix a gearcase with one is a different story. I agree with the other posts

 

[Tinkerer(ghost)]

Re: Anyone used aluminium welding rods with propane torch?

Thanks fellas.<br /><br />Pretty much what I expected.

 

[buzzman 9403]

Re: Anyone used aluminium welding rods with propane torch?

i have used both types, the other type is a regular stick rod for weld machine they work great .i have welded all kinds of stuff to my pontoon

 

[vidar]

Re: Anyone used aluminium welding rods with propane torch?

i have welded alu.for both lockeed martin and nuclear industry..and i can tell you this:the only thing thats works is welding!! the problem about alu is the oxyd layer...alu melts at 800deg f. and the oxyd at aprox 5500 deg f.. if any hope of good joint: grind it cleen and wash w.acetone.. apply hi heat/amp and go fast. in case of mig: push tortch insted of dragging it.then it is quite easy to get a nice weld. welding alu is NOT a miracle..good luck folks.