Welding alminium (aluminum in U.S.) alloy with propane

[Tinkerer2]

A mate of mine saw this done on beer cans at a field day and I've found some internet sites that offer this sort of product, but I have trouble believing that I can weld (?solder?) anything much thicker than beer cans with propane heat and a welding/brazing/soldering rod while the heat on the weld site is rushing away though the alloy at the great speed which makes it a difficult metal to weld. <br /><br />Anybody know anything about these materials?

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: Welding alminium (aluminum in U.S.) alloy with propane

Reminds me of when I was a kid, and watching the guy at a fair selling glass cutters, Never could get the same results!

 

[moderator1]

Re: Welding alminium (aluminum in U.S.) alloy with propane

Moving to Topics of Interest.

 

[AndyL]

Re: Welding alminium (aluminum in U.S.) alloy with propane

I saw the same demo and bought a load of rods while in Tasmania. I have never had any luck with them apart from tempoorarily "glueing" thin aluminium sheet. Welding aluminium is highly specialized as aluminium oxide forms readily and it's melting point is enormous compared with only several hundreds for the aluminium itself. That is why you need a controlled arc and an inert gas shield to fuse the metal. If you want to have a go with the "wonder rods" I will send you a couple with instructions!!<br />Andy

 

[JB]

Re: Welding alminium (aluminum in U.S.) alloy with propane

I have brazed aluminum with those rods and a propane torch, up to about 1/8". Danged hard to do, but it can be done. Soldering is easier.<br /><br />Much easier with a Bernzomatic OxyPropane rig because it makes a smaller, hotter flame.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Welding alminium (aluminum in U.S.) alloy with propane

Ditto that JB... Another gas I've used for soldering, brazing, and general heating is Bernzomatic MAPP gas (yellow bottle).. It burns much hotter than your standard propane torch...

 

[rolmops]

Re: Welding alminium (aluminum in U.S.) alloy with propane

I asked the same question a while ago.Here is the thread.<br />www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=004851<br />It has some good advice.<br />Good luck.

 

[gss036]

Re: Welding alminium (aluminum in U.S.) alloy with propane

I happened to see something like advertised on TV yesterday. They were actually doing heavy welding,then drill and tap new screw holes. No idea what the material is. They wanted $45 @ # and would give another 1/2# for a quick order. Looked good on TV, but doesn't. They were using a regular propane torch getting the temp up to 700 degrees to get the metal to flow, no flux, just ground bare and clean. The part you were welding to didn't look like it melted or flowed, this stuff, just stuck to it like solder of some type. Just For Info!

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Welding alminium (aluminum in U.S.) alloy with propane

I got a set of those aluminum welding rods in my garage. They are the same ones from the commercial you mentioned. I tried using them to fix a leaking problem I was having on my aluminum boat. They might work if you can get the hull of the boat to 900 degrees first and then apply the hot stuff Snapper mentioned. Because I could not get the hull to its melting point they would not work for me. Aluminum conducts heat so well that it is hard to get the spot you need to weld hot enough for the rod to melt.<br /><br />I did weld a couple of beer cans. It worked well for that but I would guess it would be hard to market the product that can weld cans.

 

[RetNav]

Re: Welding alminium (aluminum in U.S.) alloy with propane

Tinkerer2,<br /><br /> I saw the same tv ad gss036 saw and did write down the phone number. The name of the product is Alumaloy, 1-800-917-weld. On the demo they welded a broken dog back on a transmission bellhousing. They stated that the heating on thick metal would take some time. Have no opinion one way or the other as I haven't tried any of it.

 

[SlowlySinking]

Re: Welding alminium (aluminum in U.S.) alloy with propane

Try this web site for the product, <br /> http://www.alumaloy.net/

 

[rolmops]

Re: Welding alminium (aluminum in U.S.) alloy with propane

I just saw their add. A lot of noise but preciously little hard facts.<br />Smells like snake oil to me.

 

[Trent]

Re: Welding alminium (aluminum in U.S.) alloy with propane

Welding alum...You need a "Tig" welder to do it right. Iv also have tryed that stuff in the past and its junk. Just tries to stick it to the metal. You need to have a Tig with argon gas to "bond" the metals. Dont waste your money.

 

[bob58]

Re: Welding alminium (aluminum in U.S.) alloy with propane

Welding alum...You need a "Tig" welder to do it right. Iv also have tryed that stuff in the past and its junk. Just tries to stick it to the metal. You need to have a Tig with argon gas to "bond" the metals.

I beg to differ with you sir!<br /><br />Aluminum can be welded effectively with <br />SMAW ( shielded Metal Arc Welding) Stick Welding<br />GTAW ( Gas Tungstin Arc or Heliarc)Tig [ AC High Frequency]<br />MIG (Metal Inert Gas) Wire Feed Welding<br /><br />All of the above procedures can net 100% penetration, good as new finished product!<br />The key is using the right type filler material for the specific grade alloy of parent metal to be joined.<br /><br />I have also Brazed with Oxy-Acc set.<br />Propane with oxygen mix can produce a very hot flame for welding or burning. Needs a diferent mixing chamber than you would use for Oxy-Acc though.