Another muggy weld question

admin

So just got done reading total trash talk (was kind of funny as professional as he made himself to be, could not provide more logic past "it's junk") to guy who posted question about Muggy weld, so putting my flame suit onThe fix:1997 Cadillac w/Northstar v8, 65k miles, very cleanAlum blockDon't know how (poss freeze?) lateral crack 5" above pan on the firewall sideCoolant flushed , re flushed, re re flushed, blown out / driedIs on lift, removed eng / trans mount plate for better access, limited at bestcleaned w/dremel / wire brush, have started to notchOptions;Prof welder questions if tig will be good due to possible contaminants, $250Muggy weld: alloy 5: call it 600deg brazing... supposed to work even if contaminants $60ishCor-al  Alum (/tin?) w/flux cover. $4 / 3ftAll I want to do is seal leak, super tight budget (car was $1000) Back to shop tomorrow to look at possible problems if flame up in thereThoughts? (other than driving off cliff?)
Reply:that muggy weld stuff has its place (pop cans and lawn mower block threads) if you do try it and it fails it will caost more for the repair because it does not like to mix with aluminum rodit is more of a solder.. if ya want it done right Tig will be the best i would go Tig but thats what i do for a living it your car  your choice if it works  then great   sorry i cant give better adviseidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tigidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tig #2 used for sticklincoln sp100hh125dual arbor grinder polisher30 yrs of hand tools52 pitch blocks 6p-26prake gauge -pitch gaugeG&D prop repair 918-207-6938Hulbert,okla 74441
Reply:Originally Posted by prop-doctorthat muggy weld stuff has its place (pop cans and lawn mower block threads) if you do try it and it fails it will caost more for the repair because it does not like to mix with aluminum rodit is more of a solder.. if ya want it done right Tig will be the best i would go Tig but thats what i do for a living it your car  your choice if it works  then great   sorry i cant give better advise
Reply:Originally Posted by olneyjeepsNot that worried of structural integrity, pressure not to exceed approx 14lbsSeeking to serve as glue to plug holeSeveral professional welders have stated concerns about contamination (which is supposedly not concern when using flux)Just noticed my "status"- solderer
Reply:Usually the contaminants that come out while tigging the aluminum will be minimized by cleaning in advance.  The heat from the tig will undoubtedly bring some contaminants to the surface during the welding process.  If the weldor believes that the weld is jeopardized, he can grind out the bad spot and re-weld that spot.  Eventually the heat will stop bringing out contaminants.  I was trying to remember if the Northstar blocks were siliconized or not.  A high silicone content will be a real problem IIRC.Miller Syncrowave 350Millermatic 252/ 30A spoolgunMiller Bobcat 225g w/ 3545 spoolgunLincoln PowerArc4000Lincoln 175 Mig  Lincoln 135 Mig Everlast 250EX TigCentury ac/dc 230 amp stickVictor O/AHypertherm 1000 plasma
Reply:Originally Posted by DougAustinTXUsually the contaminants that come out while tigging the aluminum will be minimized by cleaning in advance.  The heat from the tig will undoubtedly bring some contaminants to the surface during the welding process.  If the weldor believes that the weld is jeopardized, he can grind out the bad spot and re-weld that spot.  Eventually the heat will stop bringing out contaminants.  I was trying to remember if the Northstar blocks were siliconized or not.  A high silicone content will be a real problem IIRC.