welding aluminium with a tourch oxy aceteliene

[steve mckelvey]

What type of flux and filler rod do you use when
welding aluminium with oxy aceteliene ?
thanks

[Paul Seaman]

Steve:
This depends on the Al you are welding. I mig weld 6061 with 4043 filler and there are several that are appropriate for any given alloy. Some work better than others and some have more latitude for materials being blended. I think 303 alloy is one I remember using in school but it has been 2 years so don't quote me on this. I do know you can use 4043 mig wire to OXW, 303 Al sheetmetal which I've done and its real pretty if you are patient, that said I prefer mig.

Your supplier should have a chart for the Alloy and filler choices.

Good luck,

[H80N]

Steve
since the rebirth of panelbeating in this country.. gas welding of aluminum has become popular again.. there is one site that is a wealth of information on this subject and metalforming as well.. it is Kent White's Tinmantech... here is the link..

http://www.tinmantech.com/index.html

Hope this helps
Heiti

[H80N]

Steve
this article in particular addresses your question..

http://www.tinmantech.com/html/aluminum_welding_article.html

Lots of info on the site

Heiti

[steve mckelvey]

Heiti&Nancy
Thankyou for your help
it was extremly informitive
I cant thankyou enough
You are at the very top
of my Christmass list
Santa will be very kind
to you this year because
you helped me weld the crack
his fat (_I_) put in her snow mobile
thanks and God bless

[aametalmaster]

I just bought a Meco Aviator torch just to learn how to torch weld alum. My local Miller dealer stocks Crown Alloys they have rod and flux for alum welding. www.crownalloys.com Bob

[H80N]

Steve/aametalmaster
aluminum is a tremendous conductor of heat and has a huge coefficient of expansion and contraction... and the gas flame makes a large HAZ... you will find it walking all over the place and just as your weld area is ready to puddle.. the area around it is about to collapse... gonna have to finesse it and be prepared to move very fast... do not get discouraged.. there is a learning curve.. some excitement is to be expected.. keep on practicing and learning... one thing that I would strongly reccomend is to practice and master gas welding thin sheet steel first.(autobody sheetmetal).. this will give you the basic techniques..... then transition to aluminum..
hope this helps
Heiti

BTW Gas welding thin steel is an art to itself but much easier than AL.. torch handling and warpage control learned doing this will make learning AL much easier... and you will probably find that it helps to improve your TIG technique as well.............

[H80N]

Guys
you will spend a lot of time learning... that is how it works... please keep us posted.. will help as we can..

Heiti