(I'm a lurker and electric land-speed wannabe)
Just a note on welding aluminum --> While it may look pretty when you're
done, it isn't anywhere near its strength capability until you get it heat
treated after you've screwed up the molecular structure with the welds.
Unless you are wealthy, you can't do the heat treating at home. It is a
several hour process in a huge oven involving very high temperatures and a
certain cool-down cycle. It is also different for each type of aluminum.
Personally, I would use steel because it retains more of its strength when
welded. You can test this yourself by cutting and rewelding an aluminum rod
and comparing the strength to an uncut/unwelded rod.
David Haile
Ft. Collins, CO
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dick Jurkowski [SMTP:lsr_man@yahoo.com]
> Sent: Friday, October 08, 1999 7:36 AM
> To: dferguso@ebmail.gdeb.com; lemay@hiwaay.net;
> land-speed@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: Welding and Welders
>
> OK, I would like some advice. I'm still in the
> acetelyne wrench and buzz box stick welder age.
> I guess I ought to go ahead and get a new welder.
> If I had a severely limited budget (like I do)
> what recommendations do you guys make for a
> choice in welders? I'm not going to be working
> that much with aluminum, mainly old fashioned
> steel.
>
> Thanks,
> Dick J
>
> --- dferguso@ebmail.gdeb.com wrote:
> > a little trick you may try is remelting the
> > welds, now that you have added
> > the filler rod, all you have to do is crank the
> > heat way up ( you can even
> > more now cuz the pieces are welded and less
> > likely to melt away ) and pass
> > the tungsten over the welds again, hold the
> > tungsten steady, maybe using a
> > slight weave, and just move along holding a
> > molten puddle across the entire
> > width of the weld. try it , you will like it-
> > and me personally, i would
> > not paint aluminum - try this technique and i
> > think you wont want to paint
> > it either- it works great- let me know if you
> > try it - doug @ black radon
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> =====
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