Thread: aluminium arc electrode

I haven't tried Ali Arc welding but I've tried TIG & dura fix (like soldering or brazing).
Dura Fix Aluminum Welding Aluminum Brazing Aluminum Soldering & Repair Rod

Oops, that was the USA site, here is the Oz site.
Durafix Australia - Aluminium Fluxless Repair Rods

No experience ,but think they may be still had from Bobthewelder.

Fairly sure you need a DC welder .ie inverter or engine driven jobby.

Grahame

Each process for welding has a fitness for purpose application to the specific job.

As with any welding process there all all sorts of variables that impact upon the suitably of electrode welding of your project.

• Cost
• Availablity of correct machine to run them
• Welders experience
• The grade of aluminium
• The thickness of material
• The conditions that welded job will work under.

Straight Google searches don't give the complete info you may seek but one is

How to Stick weld Aluminum

The above did state that DC - was the required.

and another ,more general on aluminium

http://www.brazing.com/techguide/pro...s/allumimum.as.

I suspect the flux action will be highly acidic and complete removal using a converged row s steel brush will be mandatory if you are to avoid corrossive attack by left over flux residue when the job returns to service.

Good luck with it.
Grahame

i bought a 2.5 kg pack 3.2mm sticks just waiting for the post man

just up for the challenge & something very different ,, dont do much alloy welding so theres no point in spending the dollars in something that i"d hardly use

but there are times that the odd job has risen

also there is a post on " welding web" google it ,
with photos

or www.hildstrom.com "projects " 2009 stick welding

Remember to make the joint areas very clean before starting to weld.
Acetone was mentioned as the cleaning solvent . It will expode with very little effort as it has a low flash point.

As with all flammables keep it well away from the weld area.
The pics on the welding web site told the story .Some of the dirty plate welded very poorly.

Aluminium sucks up oil like a sponge and and it will boil out as a hydrogen based gas when when weld.
Lotsa grief there with dirty plate,I am afraid.

However when do you have some sucess can you post some pics as it all helps to further our collective knowledge base.

Ta
Grahame

I have had a go at it and I found it very hard to see the weld pool, I just tried to keep a steady pass and the slag was real wide compared to the weld put down.

I bet it smoked like an old steam train as well!

I remember having a go at once in the early '80's with some 4mm rods. No good for long runs, as the rod just heats up and disintegrates suddenly.

I much prefer using the mig here.

Make sure you keep them good and dry because that white coating will come right off and then you have a bare rod thats great for torch work...Bob