Can someone answer this question(tig welding)

admin

Over on this bmx forum i came across a subject of someone wanting to weld steel to alu. I know you can't. Also heres a good question someone posted and i figure someone on here could answer it.Ok i'm just going by wat ive read in books and have no hands on welding experience. But having recently doing an essay on TIG welding for university on how great TIG welding is and it appeared that you could weld two different metal together ecluding zinc and lead together. However i have no hands on experience of it. So if anyone has tried TIG welding steel to aluminuim and works in industry and can positively confirm it does not work can you please explain to me why?
Reply:Steel can be welded to Aluminum.  NOT with tig or any other conventional method.   Explosive welding is used.  There are several companies doing this and you can get custom pieces made from steel/aluminum for any application your heart and wallet desires.
Reply:Originally Posted by TSORSteel can be welded to Aluminum.  NOT with tig or any other conventional method.   Explosive welding is used.  There are several companies doing this and you can get custom pieces made from steel/aluminum for any application your heart and wallet desires.
Reply:Originally Posted by William McCormick JrIsn't that actually considered a mechanical bond. Because you do not actually mix the metals? You kind of mechanically intertwine them.        Sincerely,             William McCormick
Reply:I have actually welded aluminum to steel before.  It held just fine..  until I hit it with a hammer a time or two.
Reply:Originally Posted by EngloidI have actually welded aluminum to steel before.  It held just fine..  until I hit it with a hammer a time or two.
Reply:They can be soldered or brazed together, but they dont 'weld' together.  'Weld' meaning the molecular fusion of the metals.   Brazing is more like glueing them together.  I have heated them both up enough using a mig torch with aluminum wire that they kind of brazed together without flux, but the bond is very weak.  Doesn't take much of a tap to break the bond.   I wouldn't call that 'welding'.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:The Dana corporation welds Al to steel all the time on drive shafts and such. They use magnetic pulse welding. Google it and you'll find alot of info. --Gol'
Reply:Originally Posted by William McCormick JrIsn't that actually considered a mechanical bond. Because you do not actually mix the metals?
Reply:Originally Posted by TSORIt's considered a solid state weld
Reply:Originally Posted by ChamferTrodeNo, explosive welding is welded, it's not the "mixing" of metals that produce a weld, but the sharing of electrons.
Reply:THere was a piece on the History Channel that showed explosion welding.  It's used for joining plates of dissimilar metals face to face.  They lay one plate on top of the other then build a frame around the plates to hold the blast slurry.  They light the thing off at the end of tunnel and wait about an hour for the smoke to clear.DennisThermal Arc 185-TSWMillermatic Challenger 172VictorO/AAtlas Craftsman 12 by 24 LatheEsab PCM-875Wholesalem Tool Mill-Drill
Reply:I saw that episode.  Quite interesting!  They had ultrasonic plastic welding on there too.   Every time I buy something and have to open an ultrasonc welded package to get to the product, I wish nobody had invented that technology, it's aggravating.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by Tailshaft56THere was a piece on the History Channel that showed explosion welding.  It's used for joining plates of dissimilar metals face to face.  They lay one plate on top of the other then build a frame around the plates to hold the blast slurry.  They light the thing off at the end of tunnel and wait about an hour for the smoke to clear.
Reply:I have some Keystone wheels where steel (chrome plated) rims are brazed to cast aluminum centers.  They're plenty strong, but I don't know much about the process that was used to join them.Keystone Classics were made the same way, as were Cragars I think.  I don't know the name of these wheels I have, but they don't make them anymore and I sure wish I could find someone that could re-plate the rims (preferrably with nickel this time) without goofing up the aluminum centers, but I don't think it's possible.Hobart Stickmate LX AC/DC, Millermatic 252 & 30A spoolgun, Thermal Arc 185 TIG, Miller BWESmith Oxy-AcBridgeport 2J , South Bend 42" 9AHusky 7.5 HP 22.3 CFM 80 gal compressor