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Goodmorning ladies and gentlemen!!So, I'd had a number of requests to try welding some aluminum with those specialty electrodes you can buy, and to see how well they work, exactly...One afternoon on my to school, I stopped by the local Tractor Supply and bought a box of Hobart's finest, 1/8" 4043 aluminum electrodes... I got some scraps of 1/4" plate, and some thinner stuff, and got to work.How'd it go, you ask? Not too well, honestly... At first I couldn't get these things to run at all, and through the course of the night had virtually every stick welding problem known to man, and several known to monkey.They were hard to strike...They were hard to keep lit...There was slag, epic slag.It was hard to remove.It got trapped in the bead.It snuffed out the arc.My main problem was with cold lap, lack of fusion, and tie-in. These electrodes burn FAST, not fast as in 7024 or flux-core fast, fast as in they pretty much just vaporize. You have to move along the joint very fast, much too fast to get adequate tie-in. Sooo... "Why don't you just slow down?" One might ask...Because if you do, the metal just piles up on top of itself and is still too cold. The slag piles up too, and gets into the bead and eventually just snuffs out the arc. One can't simply "slow down" like you could on steel...I'm no good with these things... And honestly, I don't feel too bad about it. I know it was my first time stick welding aluminum and all, but I dont think these particular electrodes will work out well under the best of circumstances. Atleast for me, 99% of aluminum repairs I've seen involve a nice spool gun, or a tig machine, and I now know why that is. A bunch of people in the comments section of this video claimed to try stick welding aluminum, with the same results I had. One guy said he could get good results with the process, but the particular electrodes I used, were among the worst he'd ever bought.I know, I know, blame the tool, right?Either way, Im sure someone out there, at some point in time has gotten beautiful welds with aluminum stick electrodes, but what was I hoping for?I was hoping that this was something that a guy with a little previous stick welding experience could try his hand at and weld up his broken aluminum lawn mower deck. Or fix the crack on the bellhousing of his project truck. Annnnnd, its not that easy, as it turns out.I hope you guys enjoy the video, and yes, I do expect to get somewhat flamed for it. For the record, I'm NOT presenting this as a How-To or anything like that, its just "I got this... This is how it worked for me".Like I said, I hope you guys enjoy it. Despite my "less than perfect" results, it was honestly pretty fun to make [Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:LMAO great vid bud, very entertaining. Me and the guys at work were playing around with them recently and had the same knee slappin, gut busting, laughing are bung holes off results! I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:When I played with them for a bit trying to help Rick V improve his welds, I noticed arc length is very important with these. The fact the rods burn so damned fast makes this a real challenge to maintain a consistent arc length..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I've heard it's supposed to be possible to O/A weld aluminium with stick welding electrodes, like those. Has anyone here tried it?
Reply:The other thing is that if u try the 3/32 rod its a joke as the rod is too soft and bends all over the place when u try to use them. Did u try them on AC or changing the polarity? Rick spent a long time messing with these. I tried too. I got given a bunch of these rods a while backTiger Sales: AHP Distributor www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P, Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma. For Sale: Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun. Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:It says for arc or torch on the electrodes. I would suspect torch works better. I did try them with a Multiplaz. The toy welder Puddytat has and they didn't fair too well but neither did reg electrodes with flux...Zinc electrodes with a propane torch is another cheap option for aluminum.Tiger Sales: AHP Distributor www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P, Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma. For Sale: Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun. Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:I bought some rods years ago just for practice and had the same results. Extremely splattery, and ugly results. I just wanted to try, but I don't see a use for them in my work. I'm sure there is an oldtimer out there who swears by them.
Reply:I read preheat to 400f for plate, arc length 1/8 to 3/16, and 60 degree angle starting at 90. Says preheat helps stabilize arc I think. Not sure just what I read.
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749Just out of curiosity, did you try running them on your Lincoln or Hobart machines?Just wondered if it might have made a difference.I have yet to see anyone make pretty beads with this stuff. I know it works in a pinch, but I've tried it & they can keep it.JB Weld works better. IMHO of course
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749Just out of curiosity, did you try running them on your Lincoln or Hobart machines?Just wondered if it might have made a difference.
Reply:I say clean the plate with a sanding disk, tack em up, preheat and try again. I have seen guys at school weld with these rods with oaw. It works good.....but the slag is still a pain to get off.
Reply:I love your videos for their honesty. Yeah, that was a pretty epic flop. One thing though, it sure looks like your head is right smack in the middle of your fume plume when you are welding. I do that too, it's a bad habit that is easy to pick up, but one that will kill you. I have been doing much better the last yr or two at keeping my head off to one side of my plume. Be safe, life has great things in store for you. Check out my channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkz...bZg8AYNXGqBjZQ"Both oligarch and tyrant mistrust the people, and therefore deprive them of arms." - Aristotle
Reply:The smoke from welding is like cigarettes and non-smokers the smoke will always blow towards the non-smoker!Tiger Sales: AHP Distributor www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P, Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma. For Sale: Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun. Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:Originally Posted by jag8243I read preheat to 400f for plate, arc length 1/8 to 3/16, and 60 degree angle starting at 90. Says preheat helps stabilize arc I think. Not sure just what I read.
Reply:I would try about 200 degrees F. But thats just an idea....
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749I'm sure there's somebody out there that can do it.How much a can of that cost you?
Reply:Originally Posted by LanseSooo... "Why don't you just slow down?" One might ask... Because if you do, the metal just piles up on top of itself and is still too cold.
Reply:crank up the hot start amperage for the Al electrodes. that helps a lot. They are a real Biatch to get started without that. One issue Rick found out.... I will have to pull them Al electrodes out again at one of our welding club meets. should make for a good challenge..Lanse, if you want me to send you some more of these Al electrodes, just PM me your address. they are old and the flux is chipped of in places but for messing around with, they are fine and Free means the price is rightLast edited by soutthpaw; 12-30-2012 at 06:39 PM.Tiger Sales: AHP Distributor www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P, Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma. For Sale: Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun. Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:Originally Posted by soutthpawIt says for arc or torch on the electrodes. I would suspect torch works better.
Reply:I have some alum stick that I used to weld the turbo pedestal on my truck. When I tried the first one on some scrap I recall 120 amps for the 1/8" or whatever the pdf said. When I first struck the arc I could have swore 3/4" of the rod was gone in the blink of the eye. I finally got a good bead but the feed/travel speed of the alum stick is no joke.
Reply:Originally Posted by jamesyarbroughI say clean the plate with a sanding disk, tack em up, preheat and try again. I have seen guys at school weld with these rods with oaw. It works good.....but the slag is still a pain to get off.
Reply:Originally Posted by BlindViperI have some alum stick that I used to weld the turbo pedestal on my truck. When I tried the first one on some scrap I recall 120 amps for the 1/8" or whatever the pdf said. When I first struck the arc I could have swore 3/4" of the rod was gone in the blink of the eye. I finally got a good bead but the feed/travel speed of the alum stick is no joke.
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWYou realize that preheating many alum alloys to this temp will destroy any heat treating and make the material dead soft right? It's sort of pointless to weld something up if you reduce the strength of the material to butter in the process. Preheat is useful, but with alum it needs to be treated with respect and you really need to know what you are doing.Just to give you an example, if you expose most alum gas cylinders to temps in excess of 265F, you have destroyed the cylinder and it's junk. That's all it takes to take the heat treatment out of those alum alloys and soften them to the point they will no longer hold up as they did before.This is why alum is welded hot and fast. You reduce the HAZ, and make up for the loss of strength with the filler alloy.
Reply:There is a guy in Austin, Texas that rebuilds boat props and he uses nothing but the electrodes. I never seen him weld them but that is what he told me.The problem with torch welding them is that you can't see aluminum puddle. One minute it's fine and the next minute it has dropped out. You can get some blue flux that you wipe on the joint then heat with the torch until it's hard. Then when you start heating the joint, you can see the flux puddle and know when to add the rod. I did this years ago to fix my flat bottom boat where a neighbor shot a hole in it at a very slight angle, making a long tear and a hole.
Reply:I gave it another go this morning. I don't know why, but preheat made it easier to weld. The picture doesn't seem to do the weld justices, it looks better in person. The slag is still a beach to get off! Attached ImagesDont pay any attention to meIm just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400Not bad!!!!! Thats actually an ok weld...
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPI gave it another go this morning. I don't know why, but preheat made it easier to weld. The picture doesn't seem to do the weld justices, it looks better in person. The slag is still a beach to get off!
Reply:CEP, not bad, not bad at all To everyone else, holy cow... I'm sure glad I'm not the only one that has gotten "mixed" results from this process. I think I'll stick to the Precision Tig or the new Spool Gun, but man was this fun to play around with [Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:Originally Posted by jag8243Can you try again takeing preheat to 400f just to see what happens?
Reply:I had to give one a shot today without laughing so hard. This one was my third attempt after playing with amperage on the first two. 3/32 rods that basically had corn muffins growing on them at 75 amps on 5/52 aluminum, with no pre heat. Attached ImagesI hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Originally Posted by LanseCEP, not bad, not bad at all
Reply:Are you guys brushing off the oxidation before you weld?
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749LMAO!I think I know who you mean.
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPOh you know!I did, with a stainless steel wire wheel on a bench grinder.
Reply:Originally Posted by LawsonWeldingLLCSo not to be a wise *** or anything, but did u know, that the tips of the wire wheel actually super heat creating more al302 (aluminum oxide btw) than they remove, in effect they actually polish the AL oxide making it shiny, I did not know this until a friend of mine contacted alcoa due to oxide inclusions in bend tests trying to run a WPS, I now after seeing these photos remember why i use a XR system LOL.
Reply:Weldermike, that actually looks like a nice bead. I'm impressed.CEP, it's hard to tell from the pics, but was there any penetration?Lanse, great video again. A guy tossed me 50 Weldcote Alumismooth 340 1/8" rods at work and told me that they ran great. Same problem you had, to cold to keep lit or too hot that it blew holes through everything. And milk flowing everywhere. If you wanna make a sequal, I'd be glad to donate 25-50 rods to you. Just PM me if you're up to the abuse.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:That is 1/4-inch aluminum, I'd say close to 1/8-inch penetration. I had better luck with Tig. I can't remember how many blows it took to break this fillet weld because it was run 7 or 8 years ago. But look at the dents in the top plate, and how the top plate is bent before breaking. Attached ImagesDont pay any attention to meIm just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPWhat is XR system?
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWXR system is a push/pull mig feeder for aluminum.http://www.millerwelds.com/products/...r_cooled__gun/
Reply:Thanks CEP for takeing the time. Did you try breaking that one?
Reply:No, when I got through I noticed they're all welded on both side. Dont pay any attention to meIm just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:I know Rocky D on the Hobart site, said he had better luck using those type rods with a gas torch. I gave up on stick welding with them, and stored them away. Might try the torch someday..Esab/Lorch ET-220iEsab 160i caddyThermal LM-200 Lincoln feedersThermal Pee-Wee 85sThermal 60i- 3phase /RPC powered (Beast)Thermal Drag-gun 35CINE 1500 Klutch 140i
Reply:Here's my playing hobart rods 4043 1/8" at 100amps Attached ImagesThe main thing is not to panic or get excited Bobcat 250, X-Treme 12VS, MM211Meltabo, Milwaukee,Porter Cable,Dewalt,MakitaVictor O/A, Ingersoll-RandEvolution Rage2, 40 amp PlasmaLincoln 225 AC/DC
Reply:Guy on another site posted this video, I thought it was interesting. Dont pay any attention to meIm just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400 |
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发表于 2021-8-31 23:09:23