All,
Have found a slightly cheaper version of Lumiweld (sounds rather similar from the descriptions) - but is available in bigger packs, thus saving a few
quid over Frost prices if you use a lot of it - 10 rod kit is £19.28 inc postage - frost would be £25 before postage.
Haven't tried it yet myself, but thought it may be useful to someone! - http://www.easyweld.com/store.cfm/did/28/Durafix-Easyweld-Rods
just watched the demo video, looks quite impressive. Is it really that easy to use ?
on small stuff yes, but bigger stuff will need a decent torch, a blow torch (even with mapp) gas can't put enough heat in.
haven't used it myself, but seeing the video gives me confidence that it's not a total non-starter..... gets a bit rediclious with the 'harder than base metal' bit ! There are quite a few here who have used Lumiweld, so assuming it is similar...
Looks very similar to Technoweld (but possibly cheaper)... impressive stuff, though you have to be careful as ali is such a good transmitter of heat you can't make one weld and then make another on the same piece of metal without temporary rivets or similar to hold everything in place.. you tend to find when making the last weld everything goes floppy and your masterpiece collapses....
I saw the demo at one of the show stands last year and it looks impressive. Its no substitute for Tig but for non structural ally 'welds' it is a good alternative.
I have used lumiweld and been grateful for it. I thought I saw something similar in B&Q being sold in packs of 2 a few weeks back. I was a
little miffed as I had just ordered a second set from Frosts and only used 1 rod!
Check out B&Q - tools section in with all the welding and soldering stuff which seems to be aimed at plumbers.
The stuff @ B+Q is (or was at least when I bought some) a red flux coated ali brazing rod. Tried using it loads of times and never got it to work
properly.....
Lumiweld looks the same as technoweld... Good stuff.
I tried Lumiweld but got no results, I'll stick with the gas bottles...
i used some this morning to "weld" a boss onto a inlet manifold (made from tigged sheet) and im fairly impressed, i was using a big plumbers propane torch with the big 19kg cylinders so heat wasnt a problem. the finished result is very tidy and a million times better than the tig welds on the rest of it done by our useless welding guy at uni (called teflon)
quote:
Originally posted by gregs
gets a bit rediclious with the 'harder than base metal' bit !
Right, watched the vid on the site, and bought a blowtorch, brush and 5 sticks.
Tried the can like demo chap and it really is that easy.
Got some 1.5mm angle ally and a bit of 1.5mm flat ally and "welded" them together, left to cool, then took hammer to it.
Make up your own minds, but I'm impressed. You can see it coming away in a couple of places, but I reckon that was cos I hadn't followed the
instructions to wire brush while heating.
ATB
Simon
[Edited on 31/1/07 by Simon]
Similar to the demo I watched at Detling last year - the guy handed me the angle that he 'welded' and told me to try and break it with two pairs of pliers ..... I couldn't.
Hey all,
I have obtained a set of 10 rods of the dutch importer of easyweld (durafix) bought a buthane/propane burner,
made a nice cup off coffee and tried it this morning.
I takes a while before you get the hang of it, use the brush a lot and heat the material, don't put the rod into the flame.
when cooled of I could not break it of with my bare hands, and that was only 15mm of soldering on 2 pieces of 20mm 90degrees angle alluminium bonded
together in length! after 3 up and down bends with the other end in a vice it finally gave way, my hand still hurts.
I will try and make a set of manifolds with this stuff and see what hapens, it's at least twice as strong as I expected. and cheap!
grtz Thomas
Got some of this stuff for the first time.
Sorting out a cut down sump, and it seems to work for me quite nicely. Pretty pleased as I am new to this.
Popped the whole thing on a gas ring (wife is away at the moment) and propane torch on the regions of interest.
I have one problem. You brush while heating, fine, but the brush (in the kit I got) was made of plywood!
I don't have much brush left and had some minor fires.
Any top tips on
1) how to avoid the brush catching light
2) where to get a new brush from!
Matt
We used Lumiweld years ago to fix a fairing lug on a bike frame and it worked well. There's a new version called
HTS
2000 , looks similar but I haven't used it.
[Edited on 2/4/07 by Peteff]
2 brushes for £3.50 including postage.
I guess I am not the first person to fry their brush!
I've looked at the videos again, heat from the other side while brushing seems to be the answer!
Matt
you're not supposed to have the brush in the flame, but put flame on the material and heat it up then brush the put ion flame again then brush
again. etc etc etc.
works for me, haven't got even black spots on the brush.
though it should go wrong any moment now.... knowng myself hahaha!
grtz Thomas
ps: come to think about it, this morning I putt new smoke detectors in our house.... was that my subconsious speaking??? Oh no!
yeah you are right.
I remembered the video wrongly, and in the excitement of the moment got carried away.
Hopefully the next 2 brushes will last longer.
Thank the lord I haven't tried welding!
matt