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  1. 28th February 2011, 10:09 PM #1
    WelderMick
    WelderMick is offline SENIOR MEMBER
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    Default welding extruded aluminium tube

    Guys, I was putting together a pet cage using some 25x25x1.2mm aluminium tube using plastic connectors. Had a few tricky bits and angles to do - so thought 'great, I'll fire up the TIG'. Bugger me - it was the hardest stuff ever to weld. I've done a bit of aluminium TIG over the last year, so I reckon I'm OK at it, but geez this stuff was somethin else.

    OK I did the surface prep and even used acetone to get it spotless. I had to crack it up to about 95 amps get a bead going (AC, 50% balance, 100Hz), and then as you could imagine it was a real fine line between a puddle and a hole. Cleaning action was working, tried pulsing, but needed about 120/70 amps to get that going. Using 100% argon. Nothing came out particularly pretty.

    So I was wondering, I don't know the grade of aluminium, but I'm pretty sure this stuff is extruded - does hardening of aluminium during extrusion make it resistant to welding?

    Cheers

    - Mick
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  3. 28th February 2011, 10:32 PM #2
    DoctorWu
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    One word....Anodised?
    woodworm.
  4. 1st March 2011, 06:26 AM #3
    BenM78
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    If you were using qubelok system then it is highly likely it was anodised. Grind a bit back with a blue flap disc and see how it goes.
  5. 1st March 2011, 06:33 AM #4
    BenM78
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    Capral uses 6060T5 in their extrusions, some qubelok is 15um clear anodised, some is mill finish.
  6. 1st March 2011, 01:01 PM #5
    WelderMick
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    Default welding anodised aluminium

    Thanks guys - you're spot on. I didn't know what it was called before, but yeah it's qubelock. I was giving it a good scratch down with a clean s/s brush, but obviously not enough. I'll flap disk a few bits and see if it makes any difference. I would've thought the AC would strip off the anodising anyway?

    [edit: just found this link The Fundamentals of TIG Welding Anodized Aluminum for anyone interested in this topic. thanks again for putting me on the right path]

    Cheers

    - Mick
    Last edited by WelderMick; 1st March 2011 at 01:03 PM. Reason: more info
  7. 1st March 2011, 01:39 PM #6
    DoctorWu
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    The anodized stuff is very difficult to work on.
    woodworm.
  8. 16th March 2011, 01:53 PM #7
    ben@SS&A
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    ally can be a "rude word" at the best of times...
    anodised ally... no chance...
  9. 16th March 2011, 05:21 PM #8
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    NewLou
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    Hey Mick

    Check Jody out Tig Welders that work exclusively on anodized aluminium in the boating industry use a special technique to pull of a good weld..............

    Cant remember what its called or the details but im sure he does a down n dirty rundown ;-)

    Regards Lou
    Just Do The Best You Can With What You HAve At The Time
  10. 16th March 2011, 08:26 PM #9
    WelderMick
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    Thanks Lou,

    Couldn't find it there for a while. Forgot to put the "z" in anodised . From what I could work out, the go is to do really deep pulses with lots of cleaning (if you don't want to grind beforehand).

    Unfortunately I've been distracted and haven't got back to the welder to try anything out (haven't even opened my new pack of TigFingers!), but will post a few pictures when I start experimenting again. We need a few more weld pics on here !

    Cheers

    - Mick
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