oxy/acetylene welding question

admin

I asked this question in the oxy/fuel thread but it doesn't seem to get much traffic. I was wondering if it would be possible to do some welds on an aluminum boat with this method? Or does the torch heat up too large of an area? The aluminum would range from .100 to .125.
Reply:OA alum "welding" taks a bit more skill than OA on steel, but it's doable with practice. There are also a number of alum brazing rods that are easy to use and would work well also for that thickness. I'd lean towards the brazing myself if I had to use OA. There's been any number of threads on OA welding and brazing of alum that you can look up here..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:If you braze it, you should be fine. If you weld it, you'll need to get yourself some flux. It may not be easy to find. As mentioned before, it takes a little finesse to do this.Be careful, and good luck...Measure twice, cut once.Millermatic 211Millermatic 251Miller Dynasty 200DXESAB O/A Set-up
Reply:I've looked through every OA thread I could find, but I couldn't find anyone who had specifically done welds on an aluminum boat with it. I know it would take a lot of practice and isn't the ideal way but if it's possible that's great. If anyone has done this and can comment on it that would be great. I'll also check out some of those brazing threads as I don't know too much about it.thanks
Reply:I tried to make some alum trailer ramps with OA and it was just about impossible. I used flux and cored rods. I perserved but I was just wasting material and consumables. In the end I gave up and just purchased the **** ramps.The main prob is that you get no feedback on temperature. You heat, heat, heat a little more....now  you have a hole.
Reply:Originally Posted by astonThe main prob is that you get no feedback on temperature. You heat, heat, heat a little more....now  you have a hole.