welding a pontoon

[Neil74]

Has anyone tried useing Alumiweld on their pontoons? I have started lightly sandblasting the bottom paint off of two areas I found that have just under an 1/8 inch hole. The area around these holes appears to be pockmarked also. I am wondering if the alumiweld rod will fill the hole and tin over the porous areas as well. The welding shop feels welding at a higher temp will open more holes.

 

[5150abf]

Re: welding a pontoon

You can get into that situation where you can't get it to seal, if there is any question I would use JB weld or maybe that is what this alumaweld is, never heard of it.

 

[Neil74]

Re: welding a pontoon

Alumiweld is a low heat welding rod,www.alumiweld.com . The problem I see with JBweld is that to use any epoxy, I would have to open the hole to allow a countersunk area. I believe that will cause cracks around the hole,possibly making it more prone to splitting. Also the holes are right over the bunks, so afraid bunks will be snagging on a patched hole.

 

[glastron50gl]

Re: welding a pontoon

Here is another interesting product. This one has flux in it. Check out the video's. And please post back what you decide to do. Nutinbitin

http://www.muggyweld.com/index2.html

 

[Neil74]

Re: welding a pontoon

Thanks for the site glastron50gl, I am awaiting a reply from them about success on pontoon boats. I tried using Alumiweld bought from Harbor Freight, I had success on the one hole but the second was a bit more difficult. Everytime I had it closed up another hole or two would pop up. The main problem seemed to be not enough heat because it was too large an area. So as I reheated it reopened up. For now I sealed that hole with an aluminum based epoxy, it held 3lbs of air with no problem. Also the one hole was at the 9 o'clock position and the difficult hole was at the 7o'clock position. I will keep all informed as to what works best. Thanks Neil74

 

[5150abf]

Re: welding a pontoon

Just a though but make sure your plugs are out when you are trying to patch this, air bulds up inside the tubes and you will never get it to seal till you release the pressure.

When I weld on toons I have to pull the plugs or drill a hole.

 

[Neil74]

Re: welding a pontoon

Very good point 5150abf, Yes I had the plugs removed from the backs of my pontoons. After looking at my work this morning ,I think that I had not cleaned enough area. As the porosity moved over it brought me in contact with an uncleaned area of the pontoon an contaminated my weld. Muggy weld contacted me, an stated that their # 5 rods would work an that I should use oxy-acytelene torch. I like the fact that they use flux with their system.

 

[glastron50gl]

Re: welding a pontoon

Neil, Do you plan on removing the old weld stuff and then using Muggyweld? I ask cause I may need to use the product and would like to know how it worked. Also would the oxy gas burn hotter? Nuttinbitin

 

[Neil74]

Re: welding a pontoon

Hi glastron50gl, I am lightly sandblasting the bottom paint off of my pontoons, then cleaning and prepping surface, if pitted I will flow welding rod as needed. Followed by sanding and polishing, muggyweld claims to be able to polish an look same as workpiece. I will tin an repair a scrap piece of aluminum with the alumiweld rod and then see if muggywelds rod will adhere to the alumiweld. I will also try a couple of repairs on scrap aluminum with muggy weld alone. Have you watched their video demo? The oxy-acyetelene would be easier to control the heat instead of fanning it out, from the looks of there demo you can lay it on thick for a good buildup of aluminum.

 

[stylesabu]

Re: welding a pontoon

i have used alumilloy to repair props, useing both acytalene/oxy and mapp gas. mapp gas easier to control temp but parts of the prop blade gets over 1/4" thick oxy worked better. but make sure your metal is clean. and i would use a small aluminum patch over holes.

 

[JeepinGunGuy]

Re: welding a pontoon

I do a fair amount of aluminum Tig welding, and I have found that sandblasting puts in a lot of contaminants which can cause crazy things to happen especially on thinner material. After you blast it, clean it off, sand it off and clean it again. Then try patching your holes.

 

[Neil74]

Re: welding a pontoon

thanks jeepingunguy, I'm blasting with a black media like glass. After blasting I am cleaning with dish soap an water, then warm clean water till cloth is clean. Last cleaning before weld with prep solvent. I'll try the patch stylesabu, I found the map gas hard to control on the larger surface when heating the new area the old would collapse an open small holes.