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Can you weld aluminium bronze to mild steel?
speed8 - 28/1/10 at 08:30 AM

As per the title.
I had a part made up but they forgot the fact the I asked for mild steel. I've asked them to remake it for me but it made me wonder if aluminium bronze would actually be ok.

I know welding aluminium to mild steel can be done but not normal practice but is aluminium bronze any easier to work with?

David Jenkins - 28/1/10 at 08:47 AM

In my model-making days aluminium bronze was considered a total PITA - it machined beautifully but wouldn't take silver-solder.

smart51 - 28/1/10 at 11:25 AM

Wikipedia says you can MIG weld aluminium bronze with aluminium bronze wire and Argon gas. That's to iteslf, I guess. Mind you, if you can braze to steel with copper or brass as a filler, I guess you can braze CuAl to steel too.

RAYLEE29 - 28/1/10 at 02:34 PM

hi, Ali bronze doesnt like to be heated it goes all funny shaped etc
you may be able to braze with the correct flux but I feel sure you will suffer from distortion
prob best to get it remade in steel if it needs to be welded
Ray

speed8 - 28/1/10 at 02:42 PM

Yeah, I figured it would need to be redone. It's for an adaptor to go from my Sierra column to a Lifeline QR spigot so I don't want to take any chances on suspect materials. Still, nice bit of work for a freebie, shame it's the wrong material.

Confused but excited. - 28/1/10 at 03:10 PM

You could get it done by Electron Beam Welding if you really had to but would costo mucho diniro.

Peteff - 28/1/10 at 03:52 PM

quote:
Originally posted by smart51 Mind you, if you can braze to steel with copper or brass as a filler, I guess you can braze CuAl to steel too.


The aluminium will melt before the braze is liquid. What is the process for aluminium to steel ? It's something I've never heard of although I don't think I need to, really

speed8 - 28/1/10 at 04:33 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Peteff
quote:
Originally posted by smart51 Mind you, if you can braze to steel with copper or brass as a filler, I guess you can braze CuAl to steel too.


The aluminium will melt before the braze is liquid. What is the process for aluminium to steel ? It's something I've never heard of although I don't think I need to, really


It's been suggested that explosive welding would do Al to steel but on an industrial scale (and costs) rather than hobby scale. There was another method mentioned but I can't remember what it was.

MakeEverything - 28/1/10 at 05:43 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Peteff
quote:
Originally posted by smart51 Mind you, if you can braze to steel with copper or brass as a filler, I guess you can braze CuAl to steel too.


The aluminium will melt before the braze is liquid. What is the process for aluminium to steel ? It's something I've never heard of although I don't think I need to, really


^^ Ditto.

I dont understand why Ali would need to be welded to steel in the first place???? Surely with one being ferrous and the other non-ferrous, they wouldnt mix properly?