Misc. Aluminum

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Here are a few aluminum jobs I have done in the past week or so.  The first few are an antenna mount for a heli and an instrument mount. I think it was 6061, somewheres about 1/16" thick.. I had a heck of a time welding so close to the material, to keep the heat to a minimum for warp-age issues. The other is a transmission case that had an encounter with a floor jack.  I never cut or ground the cracks out of the tank.  I just used a torch to burn the oil out, ran a few passes, brushed the black off and continued with clean passes. Attached ImagesCommon sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.
Reply:nice fix on the tranny cover.. i have a guy that keeps calling me that needs one welded.. is there any way you could tell me or pm me how much you did that job for i suck at bidding jobs thanks!SIN CITY METAL WORKSvisit my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/devvon
Reply:Because of the short cuts I take, I can get those jobs down to around 20 minutes total. But I wouldnt be afraid to bid out 45 minutes.  Our shop rate is 75 an hour for all non-carbon metal.Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.
Reply:Sorry I'm sure this is a dumb question but it that tig welded or mig welded?
Reply:Originally Posted by CusterSorry I'm sure this is a dumb question but it that tig welded or mig welded?
Reply:not trying to be a know it all and it might just be shadows from the picture but are those craters at the end of the bead in picture 4? if so add another touch of filler at the end otherwise it will crack down the middle of the bead in no time. again it could be the lighting from the picture.. Thanks for sharing and great work!
Reply:Originally Posted by barefooter14not trying to be a know it all and it might just be shadows from the picture but are those craters at the end of the bead in picture 4? if so add another touch of filler at the end otherwise it will crack down the middle of the bead in no time. again it could be the lighting from the picture.. Thanks for sharing and great work!
Reply:I tried to overlap the welds so I wouldnt have a crater issue.. The last weld might have a tiny one, but nothing I worried about since it only holds transmission fluid in and dosnt look like it would be a stress point.  If I'm worried about it, I'll dab my last bit and trail off, heading backwards into the weld.Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.
Reply:best way to keep craters from happening would just be slowly back off the pedal and add a little dab more of filler. I know it only holds trans fluid but if it starts to crack down the middle it could be a problem and it happens a lot. I see aluminum welds all the time that crack right down the middle from left over craters and some of them happen as early as when they are cooling. again im just trying to give you my 2 cents
Reply:Nice job, why do my customers expect me to do them still on the truck?Welds are beautifulFor the crater thing, I build a tit before I stop then back off slowly.  It shrinks to flat  or close,DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Originally Posted by barefooter14best way to keep craters from happening would just be slowly back off the pedal and add a little dab more of filler. I know it only holds trans fluid but if it starts to crack down the middle it could be a problem and it happens a lot. I see aluminum welds all the time that crack right down the middle from left over craters and some of them happen as early as when they are cooling. again im just trying to give you my 2 cents
Reply:Originally Posted by wd40prerunnerthanks i have had this happen to me and i found if i slowly let of the pedal i get bettter results.