What Alloy?

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I have some 1x1.060 square tubes for a project, but I don't know what material they are.  I cut a couple small pieces to test on, and the results were not good, shown below.   I believe they are anodized, and having read the recent thread about people just welding through that, I tried it.  All that brown film seems to be the burnt layer of anodizing.  After not liking those first couple attempts, I ground off that layer and tried again ( third picture ).  Instead of getting a puddle like I get on any of the 6000 series I've welded, it was like the whole surface of the piece became soft and gooey.  Not liquid, like a puddle, just soft.  When I tried to add filler, it would melt, but not into a bead, it would just spread out into a film across the surface. The 4043 filler doesn't seem to like this material either, cooling into a really rough cast-looking surface.   Any ideas what this is or how to weld it?  Thanks.__David Hillman
Reply:Are you sure its aluminium? Might try DCEN just to see if you can get a puddle?
Reply:Yes, positive it is AL.__David Hillman
Reply:I use  the drain cleaner "Draino"  to remove the anodize and then weld it......just mix up a small amount in a cup and brush it on let sit a few minutes and rinse off......some guys "Bump weld "  but I never had much luck with that method..... you might find that you project will turn out better with non plated material.....Last edited by B_C; 12-11-2011 at 10:54 PM.  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Originally Posted by B_CI use  the drain cleaner "Draino"  to remove the anodize and then weld it......just mix up a small amount in a cup and brush it on let sit a few minutes and rinse off......some guys "Bump weld "  but I never had much luck with that method..... you might find that you project will turn out better with non plated material.....