The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Aluminum soldering

Any of you guys try this..a buddy came back from a RV show and was impressed with the demo. I dunno but I'm naturally skeptical. I'd like to try it to see.

sideshow stuff?

looks like it works .... try it and let us know

Bill

I just had a 14 foot aluminum boat brought to me for repair today. I will see if they can send me the sticks to repair it ? I will tell you how well it works or doesn't ?

I had a difficult repair a few months ago... had it in my head that the low temp aluminum "welding" rod like you're talking about was going to be the perfect solution..... did a lot of research only to find that those rods aren't nearly as special or handy as they want you to believe.

I think when it comes down to it yes they have uses but if there is any way to weld the part for sure do that before resorting to the low temp stuff.

For my project I couldn't find any that was cheap enough to feel like it was worth a try so I tried welding again and fixed the part quite nicely... should have trusted myself to start with.

Ah, so you are saying you want to tackle the inner fenders on the 860 now?!
Grigg, when you say weld, are you talking with a tig? Mig? The guys at work got hold of some aluminum rods for a stick welder years ago. I was not very impressed with their results but they weren't great welders to begin with.

Looks like Alumiweld that was advertised on TV years ago.

Alumiweld web site.

Available at Harbor Freight for about $15.

YouTube video

- Lonnie

Grig ..can you summarize the +/- of what you found?

Any idea what the alloy is?

Nice tip on the HF..but we don't have any up here. Too bad.

This is the part I was considering trying that stuff on, die-cast aluminum intake manifold and aluminum tube.
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2148285310080251109xuupWD
Here's the result of plain old TIG welding, it was a little difficult but turned out in the end.
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2932753890080251109kYwDVV

What I continually read about the alumiweld type stuff is for low quality aluminum or die-cast parts that didn't have any strength to start with and you don't expect them to after, and then it just might be a good solution.
But for aluminum that can be welded in any other way you'll be miles ahead to actually weld it.
Supposedly it's quite difficult or near impossible to try the alumiweld and them remove it and do a good weld, so always try welding first.

In summary what I found was it should be considered a last resort after everything else won't work, but not a first choice.

Again, I haven't tried the stuff although I briefly wanted to then after some research it didn't seem like such a great idea after all.

Grigg

P.S.
Billy, I suppose there's a chance I can weld your inner fenders although I don't feel confidant about it and they don't seem like the sort of thing that allows second chances...

Thanks Grigg..interesting point about removing the stuff if it does not work out, like brazing I assume it sinks into the pores of the metal that are opened with heat, getting it off might be impossible wihout damaging the surface.

Older son is learing TIG in his robotics class at high school, maybe I'll get him to teach me.

If I'm in the states this summer I may pick up a pack if it is only $15 to try it for fun.

I bought some several years ago and if used as intended on non critical repairs it has worked well enough for me. Just don't mistake it for a true weld. It seems to work on various kinds of material so for 15 bucks, what the hell?

I used it on a Motorcycle casting that had a high concentration of magnesium (side cover ) when someones foot peg punched a hole through it, made an oil tight repair that could be fileed and smoothed, The best arc welding rods I ever used for welding aluminium where made by Stubbs, but cost an arm and a legand burn very quickly , Oxy acetelyene welding aluminium is also fun as you have such a small window from molten to it melting away ( used too dread fuel tank repairs in the microlight building shop I worked as this was the method used ). Best results if you have a mig welder that will do it( as a rule a 110 welder will weld upto about 1/8 aluminium) use pure argon or helium argon mix a small spool of aluminuim wire and a teflon liner, back off your wire tension and keep the torch / whip as straight as possible and good results can be had,One of the most important things is clean the part where your welding it as clean and grease oil free as you can make it.

Hi Greg,
Gee! I wish I could do that good of a job laying the bead as you did. Most of the time I can't even do that good of a bead on a flat metal plate. I always have to do a good grinding job. Guess practice makes perfect.

Well, practice helps that's for sure.
I'm certainly not a perfect welder and not a professional one either, just do what I need to to get by and learn as I go.

Grigg

I remember back in high school, if we got caught goofing off, or wanted extra credit, the instructor would give us snuff can lids and have us weld the lids together with a gas torch without burning holes through it. I don't remember any one completing that task.

So what your saying builder is "snuff" said on this subject?