OAW Aluminum

By Lawrence (*****)

Date 07-20-2011 01:19

It's way different. GTAW or GMAW is the way to go.''

Why do you say you "need" to OAW aluminum?

Can it be done? Yes.

But it's about the 5th best way to join aluminum

By weldstudent (**)

Date 07-20-2011 16:26

I am currently working on locomotives and there is some aluminum work to do on them. The issue is once the loco has been energized the only welding that can be done is with an open flame. There are a few aluminum welds I need to do after the power has been restored.

By DaveBoyer (*****)

Date 07-20-2011 03:01

It is trickey, due to the fact that it conducts heat so well. One second it is not hot enough, and the next You have melted a big hole in it.

You need a flux that will work on aluminum, and practice a whole lot before You try anything that matters to You.

Here You can see it being done http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mwznk009mQs It can be done with a normal torch, if You are good enough.

Notice I am not endorsing the DHC torch. It will do all they say it will, but it doesn't do it by itself. My guess is the guy doing the demo can do wonderfull work with ANY torch. I have a much older one [Dillon] and can say things are not as easy as they look on the video.

OAW aluminum is sensible on 1100 alloy work that will be hammer formed after welding, if You get good enough at it. Other aplications as Lawrence said are better done by other methods.

For what it is worth, aluminum stick welding is not one of the better methods .

By Cumminsguy71 (*****)

Date 07-20-2011 14:51

"For what it is worth, aluminum stick welding is not one of the better methods"

I could not agree more. Did that one time and will never again!

By waccobird (****)

Date 07-20-2011 15:04

Shawn

Back in the early 70's that is all we had to weld about everything above the waterline of the Destroyer I was on.

The other day we had some Aluminum Ladders that for what ever reason needed welding,(it looked like they ran into something while being transported), but I took a grinding disc for Aluminum and some Aluminum Electrode and had the fix done in less than 15 minutes.

I have no problem welding with Aluminum Electrodes especially with Name Brands

Marshall

By Cumminsguy71 (*****)

Date 07-20-2011 18:45

It might have been the electrode I was using. Come to think of it though it was back in 1997 and just bought my first welder and making an aluminum mailbox out of an old 6-71 blower. More experienced in the welding trade now and looking at what I just said.....probably nothing wrong with the electrode! LoL!!! After that first time never tried it again, gun shy I suppose you could say.