welding anodize aluminum

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Can it be done?? WITHOUT grinding the metal off?
Reply:I've never done it but Rojo Diablo and a few others TIG it on a regular basis.  Don't know if or what special tricks are required to do so.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Send a message to SundownIII, he can tell you all about 'bump welding' anodized aluminum.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Don't hold the anodized part, and strike an arc to it. Don't think the ground is connected unless you grind a good connection clean. Or you will get the high frequency good. You should clean it. But once you get an arc going, it will clean itself to some degree. It is best to clean it up good though.You have to watch though just because they anodize a part does not mean that they do not coat them with other substances. They do a rough anodize on some parts, a reverse of polarity I believe, that ruptures the anodize in the tank, and then they can powder coat over that. The coating is very thick. Very dielectric. But yes you definitely can weld on anodized parts, they will just look terrible and you cannot really anodize over a weld, even with the right material and right rod, you will see the porosity through the anodize.        Sincerely,             William McCormick
Reply:oven cleaner will remove anodizing.   use in a well ventilated areaVantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Originally Posted by Dualieoven cleaner will remove anodizing.   use in a well ventilated area
Reply:http://www.finishing.com/3600-3799/3674.shtml"Just for general information, most oven cleaners are simply jelled sodium hydroxide dispensed as a foam from the can, thus the dire warnings written on the cans. Immersion in a sodium hydroxide solution then is not necessary. I have worked with both; oven cleaner is usually easier to work with since it can be most wiped off before rinsing"Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Depends a lot on how thick a material you are welding. Generally, you start hot and fast, and you either use a bump switch, or you set your upslope and downslop to zero. Hit it, get a puddle, add filler, drop the amps to almost zero, step the pedal again, make a new puddle, add filler, repeat.Search aluminum boat towers, anodized aluminum, you will see several threads on it.I just did some repairs again to my boat tower; another nasty offshore run, and a few cracks showed up. Typical....And then, after so much work...... you have it in your hand, and you look over to your side...... and the runner has run off. Leaving you holding the prize, wondering when the runner will return.
Reply:I believe some oven cleaners use sodium hydroxide. Do, not, I mean do not get that in your eyes. Lye is about the most painful thing to get in your eye. It might be better then cyanide. Some soaps like grandma's old fashioned soap, still uses lye. And if you get it your eye, you will wish you bought Ivory soap. Ha-ha. That is what they professionally use to remove a poor or wrongly colored anodize right at the anodizing plant. A hot tub of sodium hydroxide solution. You might have to heat the part with the anodizing on it to make the oven cleaner work.        Sincerely,             William McCormick