Welding aluminum

[Joeyk99]

Hi I am making my kart frame out of aluminum and I could really use some tips. Please help me!

 

[freakboy]

good luck is all i gotta say!
and any reason for aluminum? just cause its lighter?

 

[Joeyk99]

Well I just got TONS of aluminum in my garage and it is very light and strong

 

[freakboy]

alright good enough reason. what kinda welder do you own or have access to?

 

[Joeyk99]

I think mine is an arc welder

 

[freakboy]

Im not sure if you can get rods for welding aluminum for a arc welder... but yet you may be able to so i dont know... i think a arc welder would be to hot for aluminum. i would find someone with a mig and use some wire for aluminum welding.

 

[Joeyk99]

Actually I also have a TIG welder and I just googled how to weld aluminum and the first thing that came up said that the best welder to use is a TIG welder

 

[Joeyk99]

Thanks a lot! These tips will definitely help me when I weld my frame it will look much better!

 

[acg23]

for tig you have to put the peddle down and add rod. lift up the peddle and move over. push down and add rod over and over. you are going to put dots of weld next to each other continually. pretty much make tacks right next to each other over and over. it is much easier to weld aluminum when it is hot so turn it up.[not to high if its thin.] make sure it is on AC current. practice on a few scrap pieces before the actual frame. it just takes practice. also youtube will provide you with a lot of help. this is how i learned and then honed my skills at the shop.

 

[devino246]

Actually I also have a TIG welder and I just googled how to weld aluminum and the first thing that came up said that the best welder to use is a TIG welder

is this an AC or DC TIG? i dont think DC will work.

 

[acg23]

it needs to be ac

 

[lemegacool]

it needs to be AC plus high frequency during welding... aluminium is tricky to weld because of the heat dissipation... you have to start welding hotter and the more the workpiece is heating up the more you must reduce the heat (current)

as tyler said it must be EXTREMLY clean for good looking (and easier) welds. when i weld aluminium i brush it with a stainless brush that i use ONLY on aluminium (to avoid contamination) then i scrub the piece with a cloth full of acetone to remove any grease or dirt...

if you have any questions on welding aluminium dont be afraid to ask :

 

[daveb]

make sure to use acetone to clean as stated above. DO NOT USE BRAKE CLEANER!!!!!!!

 

[lemegacool]

make sure to use acetone to clean as stated above. DO NOT USE BRAKE CLEANER!!!!!!!

brake cleaner will melt your brain... seriously

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

Old school chlorinated brake cleaner can kill you, burning it creates phosgene gas(used in WW1 to kill people).

 

[freakboy]

Old school chlorinated brake cleaner can kill you, burning it creates phosgene gas(used in WW1 to kill people).

a very very painfull death at that.....

 

[t0x1k]

If you live in jersey, the brake cleaner is no longer chlorinated. Brakleen(chlorinated and banned in NJ) is actually illegal to use.