[TheForge] Re: cleaning up aluminum for welding

[Dave Brown]

At 03:04 12/22/01, you wrote:
>Local advice is to torch weld it with some odd looking rod (of which I
>was given a couple of pieces), no flux, neutral to reducing flame.

There are several brand names for this.  Alumaloy comes to mind.  The stuff 
is expensive at about $45US/lb (give or take depending on shipping).  I've 
got some and it works on everything I've tried it on from soda cans 
(experiment, because the show it being done in the video) to bar stock to 
castings.

Try searching the web under "aluminum welding 
rod"  http://www.google.com/search?q=+Aluminum+welding+rod or go to:

http://www.virtual-adnet.com/alumiweld/ for Alumiweld
or
http://www.alumaloy.net/ for Alumaloy

The stuff melts at just above 720F and I think the process is more like 
brazing than welding.  But it seems to do the job and at 47,000psi is quite 
strong.

Dave Brown
Green Bay, WI