Thread: Aliminium welding in SE Melbourne

Hi Jackaroo

Have you managed to find someone? I've got a similarly small job in Aluminium to be done as well.

Cheers

Hi Gustopher, no one is willing to help
I'll let you know if I find anyone. I tried braze rod but it didnt work.

The Durafix stuff should be able to do that would any issues. Used it a few times on housings, bugger to grind but it's a dream

www.durafix.com.au

Good luck

Thanks DocBug,

I tried that without luck, the bond wasnt good and it felt off. Mabe I didnt heat the parent hot enough?
IMAG2168.jpg

IMAG2169.jpg

Hi Jackaroo,

I made the mistake of not cleaning it correctly with the stainless steel brush a few times and that caused my issues, since the brush, I get a pretty good bond to things and it sticks. Also heat the parent material, not the rod, the rod must melt on the parent material.

Alan

I'd offer to help guys but I'm in Adelaide...
A couple of things that might help you get some attention -

• Have you got the missing bits to go in there or does someone have to make filler pieces up?
• What is the thickness and height of the rib
• What is the general size of the part?

This sort of request is never very popular (either with people volunteering to help others out or with professionals) as you are welding up a casting that has years of ingrained muck in it. As well, alloys that cast well can be difficult things to weld.The welding takes all of 10 minutes but prepping the part and making up the pieces takes an hour (or several). At the end of it you could be lucky and get a good joint but then again it may fail the next day if the weld has not taken - and while some of that could be due to the welder it is more likely to be the alloy or it's condition.
The usual response of the person who wants the job done is underwhelming to the person who has done the job, if it's not an outright complaint about the cost or the fact that the weld failed 2 days later...

So - if you find someone to do the job, remember that it is harder than it looks and don't expect miracles.

Michael

Thanks for the tips Alan, I manged to find a replacement, so I'll give it a shot as i have nothing to lose and nothing to fear anymore

Hi Michael, Its out of the 1960 scooter engine. Its on the magneto side, someone tried to remove the flywheel and broke the bits off so they are gone, it would require to fill then file back to shape. Its about 1/2 of the 10cent coin about 3mm thick so would be hard to weld i would imagine. You are right about the preperation, it does take longer to prepare than the actual welding proocess

Regards,
Trong

Here is a quick sample as a start for the filling, the hole filled was about 10mm square and I used a piece of flat mild steel behind it, not ideal, but you can see how the outside turned out.

IMG_2910.jpgIMG_2909.jpg

Worst that can happen is you grind it back and learn some new methods.

Alan

Thanks for the photos Alan, are you using lpg or oxygen torch?

Standard Map gas and one of these http://www.bernzomatic.com/item.html?id=15 the TS8000, from the local tool supply if I recall

If you want it repaired properly by welding, then keep that Durabond away from it.
The bane of a welders life is people trying Araldite, silicone or any of the various miracle brazing rods on a job. When they usually don't work as planned, the poor old welder has all sorts of "fun" trying to clean up the mess into something they can work with - remember, the clock is running while they try to salvage the mess, which costs the end user in the long run.
Repair jobs are tricky enough as it is without being complicated by extra contamination being introduced.