Boat T Top Aluminum Tube Grade

[Mohd9219]

Which grade of aluminum tubes is used in building boat t top and does it come mirror finished or need polishing. Also what type of tig welding filler rode is usedi n the work?

[xryan]

6061, yes you can buy it pre-polished if your suppliers can get it. Tig weld with 5356.

[Mohd9219]

Any 6061 not important tempered grade? Also is 200 Amp able to do this work? Thanks lot for reply

[Olivero]

what thickness it it? 5356 or 4043 should work fine for rod.

[xryan]

Any 6061 not important tempered grade? Also is 200 Amp able to do this work? Thanks lot for reply

It all depends on what you're doing with it, just "cut and paste" or bending? A 200 amp machine is the minimum I would use. By the way, do NOT use 4043, you're going to want to anodize the fabrication after welding or all the nice polished finish will dull out and turn to a matte grey quickly. The pros weld their large fabricated tops from pre-polished and anodized tube. But TIG welding that is a whole different ballgame. No offense but from your questions you are nowhere close to being ready for that.

[Mohd9219]

Which pipe I should use for boat t top 6061 or 6063. Many friends said 6061is very difficult to bend. Your participate is appreciated

[xryan]

Actually 6061 has twice the "stretch" before failure than 6063. But the actual difference is the "T" number designation after the alloy, the temper that is important when bending any metal. You want annealed metal or T-0 to bend.

[FusionKing]

If using "raw" aluminum then you want 6063-T4.
It bends as is and no need to anneal. I can't imagine having to anneal a giant pile of aluminum just so you could bend it. There is loads of it out there already engineered for bending.

[Mohd9219]

Thanks dears,
I have reached that best pipe for building t top is 6063 anodized regardless the (T). Now which surface finish color is mostly used ? Is it brush, polished or bright dipped. I gained lot of valuable informations from kind peoplel like you. Waiting for feedback.