I'm wanting to build a boat out of alluminum. I took an autobody course a while back and was using a mig welder. Im a bit rusty but want to get back into it. What kind would I need for building a boat. From scratch. I'll probally try buying it from Canadian Tire.
is this any good? Lincoln MIG Pak 15 Wire Feed Welder
Building a boat is a pretty big project for a beginner. But, not impossible.
My advice is to delay for another 6 months on the boat and go back to your community college and take an open shop course and get some time with both aluminum GMAW and GTAW. Let the instructor know your plans and he may be able to set you up with a variety of equipment to try. This is the ultimate test drive and has saved a number of folks alot of money and headaches.
What sort of boat are you thinking about building. A little john boat or some sort of sea going craft?
The mig pak is a fine machine for an amature body shop. But for any real fabrication, forget it! I would say a 200 series mig with a spoolgun would fit the bill. I have a millermatic 210 with a spoolmate 3035 and recommend it highly.
The classic way of making a watertight riveted joint was to first rivet it. Then using a hammer and a tool that looks like a cold chisel with the end ground flat you would work the exposed edge to upset it against the other piece (called calking). This sealed the joint. Leaks at rivets could be fixed by calking the edge of the rivet head. All in all a lot of work. Bill