Replies

1. 
   PaulBinCT | Jan 26, 2005 09:22pm | #1

   I have Bob...works quite well, as long as the materials are very clean.

2. 
   ProBozo | Jan 26, 2005 09:29pm | #2

   i, too, have used successfully.

   Takes a lot of time to get up to temp with propane, although can do it if aluminum base is thin. MAPP works much better, best is oxy-propane, oxy-gasoline, or oxy-acy. I'ved used all, have only used straight propane when it was only option.

1. 
   bobl | Jan 26, 2005 11:09pm | #3

   thanks guys 

   bobl          Volo, non valeo

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3. 
   JeffBuck | Jan 27, 2005 12:53am | #4

   I know nothing about welding ...

   but back in trade school when I blwo out the rear corner of the engine cases on my '77 Sportster ... the head of the welding school offered to weld them for me.

   He said anytime he welded aluminum, he heated the material first then got to welding as quick as possible. Something about the work piece pores expanding and taking the weld repair better.

   Said he'd done a coupla old Harley blocks .... "cooked" them in his oven at home for an hour at 500 .... then welded right on the open over door.

   Jeff

     Buck Construction 

      Artistry in Carpentry

           Pgh, PA

1. 
   bobl | Jan 27, 2005 01:44am | #5

   despite what they say about these things "welding" i don't think they are real welds.the offiical definition for welds requires higher temps than these stuffs melt at. 

   bobl          Volo, non valeo

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1. 
   woodguy99 | Jan 27, 2005 01:53am | #6

   Is this technique considered brazing?  Or, by Jeff Buck's system, braising?

1. 
   bobl | Jan 31, 2005 07:06am | #13

   I did a gogle on the stuff.there was a Q&A from somewhere that poped up
   the way the answer read the temp used defined what it was, welding, or soldring or brazing. thinl braising is done at about 300degreees and brazing at 800 

   bobl          Volo, non valeo

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1. 
   JamesDuHamel | Jan 31, 2005 08:02am | #14

   They work good if used for the right applications.

   Problem I see is when people use them for items they were never really intended for. Ever notice that the guy demonstrating them always uses them on really thin stock (coke cans, lawn chairs, etc...) They work great for thin stuff, but are hard to get going good on thicker stuff. Rods have to be cleaned very well before each use to rid them of the oxidation. Same for the surfaces to be "welded"

   For the thicker stuff, tig works great.

   Just my opinion...James DuHamel

   He who dies with the most toys.... Still dies!

   "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul?" MARK 8:36

   http://www.godsfreemusic.com

2. 
   reinvent | Jan 27, 2005 02:15am | #7

   Then his DW put his butt in the dog house.

1. 
   MisterSteve | Jan 27, 2005 03:34am | #8

   I used them to make some 1/16 Aluminum angle picture frames. Really clean the aluminum. Even then, when I shpped them, about 1/3 broke. Maybe this is a great excuse to get a little MIG?Stevehttp://www.lukeworks.com

1. 
   Treetalk | Jan 27, 2005 03:51am | #9

   Theres a guy who comes to our local flea market every year and does a demo on aluminum welding.He welds lawn chairs , beer cans lawn mowers ect. Sells like 3 rods and a brush for l$5.00. Makes it look easy but when my dad and i tried it on a RV water tank...no go.  Sometimes he shows up with a glass cutter or a knife that cuts nails and concrete block then spiral cuts a tomato. Used to be a guy who had a special car trying to sell something that eliminated spark plugs.He could toggle off each cylinder and route it thru his "hi-energy" device.

3. 
   BKCBUILDER | Jan 27, 2005 04:02am | #10

   The preheat was mostly to cook the oil out of the aluminum. Cast blocks have a lot of impurities, you can see them floating on the puddle when you tig it. That's why they mostly tig cast blocks, so the high freq, and pulse can agitate the crap to the top of the puddle.

    All the welding shops carry this voodoo rod that was mentioned, it's just made by a large supplier, and is MUCH cheaper at the welding supply. It's nothing special either. 

    Aluminum sucks up heat fast, that's why it's harder to gas weld with anything less than oxy/acy...tig is best.

1. 
   junkhound | Jan 27, 2005 04:09am | #11

   Never successful with this type rod with straight propane air. Oxy-act. OK. 

   One additional tip in addition to clean and removing all oxide first is to "scratch" the surface of the work rod while applying to break the new oxide layer.

4. 
   Shoeman | Jan 31, 2005 06:38am | #12

   My brother bought some real cheap at Harbor Freight

   did a little patch work on his truck topper - sloppy and needed to be ground down afterwards, but, it worked