02GF74
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| posted on 30/6/09 at 08:28 PM |
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MIG welding aluminium alloy
I need to change the outlet position of a crossflow aluminium alloy thermostat housing. I've sawn the top away from the base and need a 10 mm
spacer in order to clear a nut.
Plan is to cut a 10 mm wide strip from 3 mm aluminium sheet, roll it to a tube and MIG weld it in between the two pieces.
What are my chances of succeeding?
Will MIG welding the housing cause problem due to incompatible metals?
Or am I better off looking to get it TIG welded?
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matt_gsxr
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| posted on 30/6/09 at 08:32 PM |
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nice deraileur
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whitestu
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| posted on 30/6/09 at 08:34 PM |
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Unless you are a really good welder I'd say your chances of success are low. I had a go and got nowhere with it.
Stu
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flak monkey
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| posted on 30/6/09 at 08:39 PM |
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http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/aluminium-welding.htm
Its not too difficult on thick stuff, but very tricky on thin sheet.
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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rusty nuts
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| posted on 30/6/09 at 08:58 PM |
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Many years ago when I was still at school doing metalwork I made a shooting stick , the top part of which I cast using aluminium . Easy to model the
part in wax before making the mould in sand (may have been a special sand?)
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BenB
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| posted on 30/6/09 at 09:03 PM |
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IMHO tack welding ali is okay, anything more than that using MIG is a bit tricky. But I think a combination of MIG for tacking followed by some
Technoweld (bizarely for strength) is quite a good combo... That's what I'm using for my airbox anyway....
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MkII
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| posted on 30/6/09 at 09:26 PM |
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quote;
What are my chances of succeeding?
somewhere between "slim and none at all"
i use mig for 6/8mm ally plate but for thin stuff allways tig.I repaire my crossflow thermostat housing with tig when the small air bleed outlet got
snapped off. m.
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ashg
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| posted on 30/6/09 at 11:25 PM |
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tig it. its the only sensible way.
Anything With Tits or Wheels Will cost you MONEY!!
Haynes Roadster (Finished)
Exocet (Finished & Sold)
New Project (Started)
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Sam
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| posted on 1/7/09 at 07:29 AM |
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Unless everything with your MIG set is spot on it is likely you will fail miserably. i.e. drive rolls good condition preferable knurled ali rolls with
correct pressure. teflon liner, short torch, clean contact tip and correct setting required. The most common problem is bird nests in the wire drive.
TIG is the way forward !!
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 1/7/09 at 07:55 AM |
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I've MIG welded alloy many years back, the results were not exactly pretty but it was strong enough. I've even welded a holed piston on a
field bike!
It does take a lot of messing around to set the welder up for alloy wire though and you need a decent (pref. teflon) liner in the torch.
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iank
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| posted on 1/7/09 at 08:07 AM |
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Best to use a gun mounted reel for aluminium.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_MiGrL9350
But since you need a bottle of pure argon it's probably cheaper to get someone to TIG it for you.
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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GrumpyOne
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| posted on 1/7/09 at 08:43 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by rusty nuts
Many years ago when I was still at school doing metalwork I made a shooting stick , the top part of which I cast using aluminium . Easy to model the
part in wax before making the mould in sand (may have been a special sand?)
Silica sand, not readily available in small quantities also expensive, but you can use it many times.
My wife is very understanding, she understands that if I am in the garage I am not in the house annoying her.
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davie h
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| posted on 1/7/09 at 08:49 AM |
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i attempted to shorten a mondeo zetec sump by ally mig welding gave up and bought a escort sump.
Davie
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24179682@N04/?saved=1
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