Oxy Weld Aluminum?

Date 03-24-2004 05:18

http://www.jwharris.com/welref/faq/flux_chart/
Lots on flux here, welding, brazing and soldering of aluminum are all mentioned. I think you will find fillers too if you search around a little on this site. You can do it with O/A. Ask your welding supply guy, after you convince him that you are not going to buy a $2000 TIG machine he will probably have the stuff you need.
Bill

By sparx

Date 03-24-2004 13:41

not all of us "welder supply guys" will try to sell a piece of equipment if the customer doesn't want it.... :)
actually, there is a product called alladin 3-in-1 rod that works quite well for oxy/fuel welding/brazing of aluminum. you can pick it up (at least in Canada) in a trial tube with about 3 different sizes of rods at about 12" length.
see if this is available first, and if you can't find what you need, call me and I will sell you a "$2,000 tig machine" :) 'jus kiddin'

By billvanderhoof (****)

Date 03-25-2004 06:28

Just bustin chops- but if I asked my welding supply guy this question he would immediately lead me over to that TIG machine- and he would be bustin my chops. Then he would sell me the stuff I needed- as you have done.
Bill

By jwright650 (*****)

Date 03-24-2004 14:15

I think the key is cleanliness, take Bill's advise and use the flux "as directed" immediately after cleaning with a SS wire brush and wiping the area down with something like acetone. Choice of rod size will be evident, if too small(melts too quick), if too large (weld pool freezes to quick).
John Wright

By Diesel

Date 03-24-2004 17:48

Is it necessary to have the Cobalt Lense with O/A or can you just swim the filler rod around in the puddle kinda like brail welding? I have done this with an H2/O setup and the yellow haze all but obstructs your view. We didn't know you could use a cheap lense and got the $100 "special glass". Wish I could'a posted a question then and saved some bucks. What it was called I don't remeber.

By jwright650 (*****)

Date 03-24-2004 18:01

Here is a link with a shade chart, you might have to scroll down to see it.
http://www.aws.org/wj/dec02/feature.html
John Wright

That's not it, sorry. I had something else in mind. AWS used to put the shade selector on their site under "Safety", but I think they may have removed it.

By jwright650 (*****)

Date 03-24-2004 18:43

Try this one and search for " 1910.133(a)(5) "
http://osha.gov/

Filter Lenses for Protection Against Radiant Energy
_____________________________________________________________________

Minimum(*)
Operations Plate thickness-inches Plate thickness-mm Protective
Shade
_____________________________________________________________________

Gas Welding:
Light Under 1/8 ............ Under 3.2 ......... 4
Medium 1/8 to 1/2 ........... 3.2 to 12.7 ....... 5
Heavy Over 1/2 ............. Over 12.7 ......... 6
_____________________________________________________________________

Oxygen cutting:
Light Under 1 .............. Under 25 .......... 3
Medium 1 to 6 ............... 25 to 150 ......... 4
Heavy Over 6 ............... Over 150 .......... 5
______________________________________________________________________
Footnote(*) As a rule of thumb, start with a shade that is too dark
to see the weld zone. Then go to a lighter shade which gives
sufficient view of the weld zone without going below the minimum. In
oxyfuel gas welding or cutting where the torch produces a high yellow
light, it is desirable to use a filter lens that absorbs the yellow
or sodium line in the visible light of the (spectrum) operation.
Footnote(**) These values apply where the actual arc is clearly
seen. Experience has shown that lighter filters may be used when the
arc is hidden by the workpiece.

Hope this helps,
John Wright

By 357max

Date 03-25-2004 14:30

The cobalt lens would be required to see the hydrogen flame when using the hydrogen as the fuel gas. Acetylene does not require cobalt.