Need Help On This One

[trep813]

I'm new to welding aluminum with a torch and wonder if anyone can point me in the right direction to a good on-line tutorial? Or some solid advise? I have a torch set up and many diffrent size brazeing tips. I needto know the specifics.

[Broccoli1]

http://www.tinmantech.com/html/contact_us.php

[Aerometalworker]

I'm new to welding aluminum with a torch and wonder if anyone can point me in the right direction to a good on-line tutorial? Or some solid advise? I have a torch set up and many diffrent size brazeing tips. I needto know the specifics.


Glad to see you venturing to the "dark" side.
If you have any specific questions feel free to e-mail me!
novakperformance@yahoo.com
Kent has 90% of the information you will need though, but it helps to bounce questions off of someone at times. Or heck ask them on here, maybe someone else can bennefit from the answer.
-Aaron

[moya034]

it helps to bounce questions off of someone at times. Or heck ask them on here, maybe someone else can bennefit from the answer.
I too have grand notions of attempting aluminum welding with O/A.

[Aerometalworker]

I too have grand notions of attempting aluminum welding with O/A.

Great,
All you need is a suitable torch, flux, stainless brush, filler, and a lens.
What thickness material?
-Aaron

[oldtimer]

Try some Allstate Silcore rod. It has the flux inside the rod. You won't have to mess with flux while you are learning and makes a pretty bead. The right lens makes a huge difference and remember, aluminum doesn't turn red when it melts.

[moya034]

Great,
All you need is a suitable torch, flux, stainless brush, filler, and a lens.
What thickness material?
-Aaron
What shade lens do I need, same as my other O/A work?

Is the flux applied to the outside of the rod or the base metals, or both?

I've done fusion welding of mild steel with an O/A torch before, is it the same technique and torch angles?

I don't have any specific projects to work on right now, I like to play around with various processes before I need them :) I have a backyard foundry, so it's only a matter of time I'm going to want to weld some aluminum castings, and my wallet won't let me buy that Miller Dynasty 200DX for a while.

[Hotfoot]

I watched the Henrob Demonstrator at a Swap meet do quick and very nice looking aluminum welds, using O/A, AlumiFlux, and aluminum rod. The Henrob was probably not a part of the equation as much as his skill (he was VERY good). I bought a can of the flux when I bought a torch outfit (now long gone), but never got around to trying it...this does re-kindle my curiosity, however! :)

[Aerometalworker]

What shade lens do I need, same as my other O/A work?

Is the flux applied to the outside of the rod or the base metals, or both?

I've done fusion welding of mild steel with an O/A torch before, is it the same technique and torch angles?

I don't have any specific projects to work on right now, I like to play around with various processes before I need them :) I have a backyard foundry, so it's only a matter of time I'm going to want to weld some aluminum castings, and my wallet won't let me buy that Miller Dynasty 200DX for a while.

Lens-Get a TM2000 ( www.tinmantech.com) , it must cut the sodium orange flare.

Flux-Allstate 35 is a good start, or the flux from the same place as the lens.

Filler- Same as Tig (Where do you think the tig guys got it from?)

Note: Stay away from the "flux cored" products for now, thats brazing material not welding.

Process:
1-Pick a tip size 1 or 2 sizes LARGER then with steel, this comes with experience.
2-Flame setting should be soft and quiet, and neutral to slightly fuzzy
3-Clean , scratch brush, and again clean the base material. Use a clean stainless brush only.
4-Flux is mixed with bottled drinking water to form a light paste
5-Flux the part, and your cleaned filler ( for beginners )
6-Aluminum welding is fast, tacks are made in a couple seconds.
7-Weld using similiar procedure to steel, but do NOT wave the torch around, keep it stready and moving forward.
8-Dont try to keep "working" on an area, the flux is only good for one pass, keep going, and then re-flux and re-work the trouble spot.

I reccomend the video from Kent called Aluminum welding 2.1 from www.tinmantech.com, well worth it.

While you can use any torch you like, smaller and lighter torches are easier to use, especially on sheet.

-Aaron

[moya034]

Lens-Get a TM2000 ( www.tinmantech.com) , it must cut the sodium orange flare.
So if I read that site correctly, even tho the TM2000 lens is the same shade as your typical O/A protection, the typical protection does not protect against the flux flare that the TM2000 does?

Thanks for the tips Aaron!

[Aerometalworker]

So if I read that site correctly, even tho the TM2000 lens is the same shade as your typical O/A protection, the typical protection does not protect against the flux flare that the TM2000 does?

Thanks for the tips Aaron!

Its not for protection, its so you can see what the heck your doing! Plus you will love it for any kind of brazing.
Aaron