TIG welding anodized aluminum

admin

I went for a job today, they let me practice and will continue to let me practice. They were thinking of offering me the driver position too.  When I was practicing I was trying to weld anodized aluminum that they weld on, I could not get that crap to weld worth a damn. There was blackish gray crap floating in the puddle, the weld was grainy, and had no ripple definition. I wiped it down with acetone, 210 amps no foot pedal button start, red tungsten on a syncrowave 350, dunno the filler type, nor the base material but I assume the filler was compatible with the base as that is what they gave me. I didn't take any pictures but I was wondering if anyone could help me with what was going on. The non-anodized aluminum welded fine and I was getting some decent welds.Miller Maxstar 200 SDPiperliner #10 Gold
Reply:How thick is the material, and are they just starting to work with it? Any other welders there to check there machine settings. Im thinking you need a foot pedal to blow through the anodize and then pedal it from there. Thats what i do.I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:No Foot pedals at all, button start. It is 1/8" wall Everyone seems to be running 210 and 250 on the thick stuff.Miller Maxstar 200 SDPiperliner #10 Gold
Reply:Hmm! 210aamp should be fine then. I blow right through it and run it right out pulsing with my foot on my syncro 210 maxed out. This is 3/16.I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Try pulsing the weld with the button kinda on off on off  the shops welding up tuna towers and stuff all either clean the anodize ing off of the weld area first or use inverter welders and change the hertz
Reply:They didn't like me wire brushing the any of the material. Oh well. Ill keep practicing, I need to work on the coping to but them together.Miller Maxstar 200 SDPiperliner #10 Gold
Reply:Are these parts cut on a waterjet by any chance?I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:You should search more. There are a bunch of threads on the subject. I have shared my technique many times. so have others (it seems like everyone has a different way of doing it). Look up bump welding. on Syncrowave i have a totally different setup than on my Dynasty. Im surprised they are using red on the sync. I could go on and on about the way i do it but its best you just learn the way they want you to do it.www.performancealuminumfabrication.com
Reply:Originally Posted by abecTry pulsing the weld with the button kinda on off on off  the shops welding up tuna towers and stuff all either clean the anodize ing off of the weld area first or use inverter welders and change the hertz
Reply:Had to do with boats but Miller has a long article that might give you tips about  welding anodized aluminum: http://www.millerwelds.com/resources...lding-BirdsallMM210TA186TA95sLincoln AC/DC Tombstonegood old Smith torch setup 24v Readywelder mig w/spoolgunSB H 10 latheBridgeport mill6x12 K.O.Lee surface grinderK.O.Lee tool/cutter grinder
Reply:Originally Posted by travisc454You should search more. There are a bunch of threads on the subject. I have shared my technique many times. so have others (it seems like everyone has a different way of doing it). Look up bump welding. on Syncrowave i have a totally different setup than on my Dynasty. Im surprised they are using red on the sync. I could go on and on about the way i do it but its best you just learn the way they want you to do it.
Reply:Yeah sounds like they are bump welding the alum. They don't want you wire brushing since that would destroy the anodized finish. The basics of bump welding is that you blast the piece with high amps to blow thru the anodized surface and then turn the torch off and repeat. The closest simple explanation I can come up with is it's sort of like a manual pulse. As mentioned it's often used to do anodized alum towers on boats.If you want to search easier, I'd suggest using your favorite search engine and typing in "weldingweb" then whatever search terms or users you want to search for. I find it's a lot simpler that way if I'm hunting for a thread I know someone posted up in the past. I used that to locate the thread Zap was looking for the other day on his kingpin repair..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:Originally Posted by DSWYeah sounds like they are bump welding the alum. They don't want you wire brushing since that would destroy the anodized finish. The basics of bump welding is that you blast the piece with high amps to blow thru the anodized surface and then turn the torch off and repeat. The closest simple explanation I can come up with is it's sort of like a manual pulse. As mentioned it's often used to do anodized alum towers on boats.If you want to search easier, I'd suggest using your favorite search engine and typing in "weldingweb" then whatever search terms or users you want to search for. I find it's a lot simpler that way if I'm hunting for a thread I know someone posted up in the past. I used that to locate the thread Zap was looking for the other day on his kingpin repair.
Reply:Originally Posted by smilexelectricI will try that thanks DSW. Now that I remember thats what  the guy did when he was teaching us. On the non-anodized alum I could run my beads easily no nasty sinking in puddle and black soot everywhere.
Reply:Originally Posted by chrisoatesThis is the
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWYeah sounds like they are bump welding the alum. They don't want you wire brushing since that would destroy the anodized finish. The basics of bump welding is that you blast the piece with high amps to blow thru the anodized surface and then turn the torch off and repeat. The closest simple explanation I can come up with is it's sort of like a manual pulse. As mentioned it's often used to do anodized alum towers on boats.If you want to search easier, I'd suggest using your favorite search engine and typing in "weldingweb" then whatever search terms or users you want to search for. I find it's a lot simpler that way if I'm hunting for a thread I know someone posted up in the past. I used that to locate the thread Zap was looking for the other day on his kingpin repair.
Reply:Originally Posted by weldermikeI undertstand what your saying Doug, but I don't believe they shut down all the way like he would have to do with a on off switch. If he had a machine with up and down slope it would be a different story then. You can work a machine with slope just like pulsing with a foot pedal and get the same results. I just got in from work and after having a beer, if I muster up the energy ill dig out some 1/8 anodized, set my machine to 210a, and run it wide open with no pulse and see. Wish we had a good sample of what the other guys are doing, but are not telling him.
Reply:Originally Posted by weldermike Hmm! 210aamp should be fine then. I blow right through it and run it right out pulsing with my foot on my syncro 210 maxed out. This is 3/16.