Hi all,
I have a Clark pro 90 welder that I have used on the restoration of my clubby estate. The instructions say that you can weld aluminium with it , if the correct wire and gas are used. I would love to be able to do this as I am messing about with a one off grill, and not having to give it over to a welding shop would be a bonus and save me some cash too.
The question is, has anyone used a set up like this to weld alley and did it actually work to a decent standard. I know that a fair bit of practise is needed like most things bodywork wise, but be nice to know if I am on a hiding to nothing to start with.
Cheers
Alloy Welding
Started by
tommy boy
, Oct 12 2011 04:16 PM
5 replies to this topic
#1
tommy boy
-
- Members
-
- 197 posts
Mini Mad
- Location: southampton
- Local Club: Winchester Area Mini Owners
Posted 12 October 2011 - 04:16 PM
#2
ibrooks
-
- Members
-
- 1,017 posts
One Carb Or Two?
- Location: Darwen, Lancashire
- Local Club: Leyland Mini Club
Posted 12 October 2011 - 09:02 PM
You can MIG aluminium but yes it needs lots of practice and you need the correct bits in your welder (you often need to change the liner as well as gas and wire. The best place to get advice on this is probably the mig welding forum.
Iain
Iain
#3
tommy boy
-
- Members
-
- 197 posts
Mini Mad
- Location: southampton
- Local Club: Winchester Area Mini Owners
Posted 13 October 2011 - 06:17 AM
Cheers for that
#4
A.Millican
-
- Members
-
- 200 posts
Mini Mad
- Location: Margaret River, Australia
Posted 13 October 2011 - 02:41 PM
Hello,
I am I time served welder, I would not advise trying to weld aluminium with "budget" MIG machine. You will need to change the torch liner, gas and perhaps the rollers if you are using low dia. wire.
Aluminium does not weld like steel, it's difficult to explain unless you have welded it before. It is difficult for me to say what process would be the best for something like a grill having not seen what you are wanting to do, probably TIG.
Is there no way you can "mechanically" modify the grill without welding?
I will help all I can on welding related topics, Give me a shout if you need a hand
Andrew
I am I time served welder, I would not advise trying to weld aluminium with "budget" MIG machine. You will need to change the torch liner, gas and perhaps the rollers if you are using low dia. wire.
Aluminium does not weld like steel, it's difficult to explain unless you have welded it before. It is difficult for me to say what process would be the best for something like a grill having not seen what you are wanting to do, probably TIG.
Is there no way you can "mechanically" modify the grill without welding?
I will help all I can on welding related topics, Give me a shout if you need a hand
Andrew
#5
Ethel
-
- TMF Team
-
- 26,074 posts
..is NOT a girl!
- Local Club: none
Posted 13 October 2011 - 03:10 PM
This stuff works http://www.durafix.co.uk/
It is just like soldering, but it can be tricky to use* and the actual "solder" is noticeably a different silver colour.
* you need to get enough heat into the aluminium, with it being such a good conductor it all heats up so all your "soldered" joints go molten if you reheat it for another. Unlike solder, it melts and alloys with the workpiece - more like welding, so there's no going back. You need to pin or clamp everything solidly together.
Shop around, there's other makes & suppliers.
It is just like soldering, but it can be tricky to use* and the actual "solder" is noticeably a different silver colour.
* you need to get enough heat into the aluminium, with it being such a good conductor it all heats up so all your "soldered" joints go molten if you reheat it for another. Unlike solder, it melts and alloys with the workpiece - more like welding, so there's no going back. You need to pin or clamp everything solidly together.
Shop around, there's other makes & suppliers.
#6
tommy boy
-
- Members
-
- 197 posts
Mini Mad
- Location: southampton
- Local Club: Winchester Area Mini Owners
Posted 16 October 2011 - 01:27 PM
Hello,
Thanks for the help guys.
What I am trying to do is mount 10 solid , 10mm rods across in place of the old grill. I have cut and mounted two alloy end panels and a centre bar. The rods would then be strung across at intervals and welded in place. I would like the welds on the lower section of the rod only so it will not show too much.
As for the headlights , I do have a plan for this. I did think about part drilling and tapping it out, but to get them all to line up would be a difficult thing to do.
So really, to do this correctly it will need tig welding by a pro by the sound of it. Another expense the wife needs not to know about.
Thanks again
Thanks for the help guys.
What I am trying to do is mount 10 solid , 10mm rods across in place of the old grill. I have cut and mounted two alloy end panels and a centre bar. The rods would then be strung across at intervals and welded in place. I would like the welds on the lower section of the rod only so it will not show too much.
As for the headlights , I do have a plan for this. I did think about part drilling and tapping it out, but to get them all to line up would be a difficult thing to do.
So really, to do this correctly it will need tig welding by a pro by the sound of it. Another expense the wife needs not to know about.
Thanks again
1 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users
