The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop DuraFix aluminum repair?

Was wondering if anyone had any experience with this product? They demonstrate aluminum repair to a 1/4" hole punched in the bottom of a beer can. Inpressive to say the least! But is it "smoke and mirrors?"

I've been toying with the ideal of being able to use some aluminum tubing, making splices and several other operations where I could make non-structural components.

If any of you have had any experience with this product I sure would appreciate your comments.

The site is:

http://durafix.com

Thanks in advance,

Dave

Guess nobody in this forum ever has to make repairs to aluminum or fabricate aluminum components! By the looks of the demo video, it sure looks like something that might serve a limited need at a relatively low initial out-of-pocket cost. Oh well!!!

Fla54Chevy3100,

I have used a similar product. After completing the learning curve, I was totally amazed at how strong a weld it produced...I would consider it structural in strength. Give it a try, just don't expect the weld to be Tig quality in appearance.

There used to be a product called 'Allstate Sealcor'. I don't know if it still exists, but you might Goggle it...sure sounds similar to your deal.

Stuart

Hey, it's only money! Try the product out and if you like it great. I went to their web site and read the information and it doesn't look bad at all. I would think the only problem would be if your work piece were large. It would take a lot of heat to get the stuff to stick. You said you were going to use on alum. tubing for non structural applications. Get back to us with a report as not all of us have a TIG machine.

Pretty impressive video. You're right about the heat situation....always can fall back on the oxy-acetylene set.

Will give it a shot,

Dave

After looking at the demo...I may have to dig my bundle out and start to practice. (Bought some two years ago from a trade show...and promptly had nothing to use it on..:^)

Too bad the trucks are steel...can't use this fix I guess.

I mentioned that I had used a similar product. That was before I viewed the video. This stuff is much different..obviously more of a solder than anything else, but very cool looking.

Just watching the bright silver flow makes me want to buy some and try it. It sure looks like it makes a strong joint as witnessed by the 'T joint' hammer attack.

I am guessing the secret is the heat, and the fact that the parent material isn't melted. The stickler with gas welding aluminum is that you have no real clue that it's about to go molten on you. It's there one second, and boom, gone the next.

The process I used involved cleaning the oxide off the item, then dusting it with a sooty acetylene flame. The soot coating allowed you to see the aluminum turn molten, but didn't interfere with the weld itself. Fun stuff.

Stuart

I have used alumiweld and had great sucess with this product.Very strong weld.

I was thinking that this might be a viable product for closing up the leaky holes on the bottom of an Offy intake manifold for using water heat. Wouldn't pull the mfgr's plug but just build up the aluminum right over the plug.

Going to order a kit and see if it really is as easy as the video shows.

Dave

There is also a product out there that you can use to repair aluminum that has an even lower flow temperature than the Durafix. You can find it at muggyweld.com. Just about as expensive, but the nice thing about their product is the flux is used as a temperature indicator. That way you are able to know by the way the flux reacts how hot is hot enough.

Ubetcha...their Super 5 kit looks like it might be just the ticket. I like the idea of the flux indicator. I think the durafix relies on a bunch of practice!! Thanks for sharing that!

Dave

So seriously...this conversation has me thinking...with all the tensile strenghts being thrown around...could I build a flat bed out of this stuff?

I need a replacement tilt hydraulic bed.

Dave

sablesurfer,

Probably not! This is a light repair item..and expensive at that.

Stuart

I tried it once on a Air conditing evaporator and didn't work.Been welding for 30 years.Could be me though.

I did a beer can first try...wierd how it webs over a hole..used a butane cheap plumbing torch

I would try J B Weld. I will bond to anything dry. A rough surface dried with alcohol is best. Heat from a light accellerates drying. You can even add layers of fiberglass screen for added strength. J B Weld is a two-part epoxy that can be drilled and tapped. Wal-Mart has it.