Posted by Chris Case [75.36.45.229] on Friday, April 05, 2013 at 20:42:10 :
In Reply to: Re: OT, been learnin up on tig welding aluminum posted by wayneh [68.55.55.71] on Friday, April 05, 2013 at 19:51:06 :
I'm a shakey old man.
But even 30 years ago when working in a welding shop, the boss told me not to weld on any customer orders. OK for jigs and tacking, but even my mig welds looked like pigeon droppings. I also can't write, type, or play musical instruments. And assigned to Special Ed gym class. All that BEFORE seven surgeries to my hands. Though my mig did get better. Probaly better alloys today.
So, for my tig fit up, I leave one side sticking up one material thickness. Then I fuse that rib down to the other part. Destructive testing (pounding the 90° down to flat)shows good strength. None of that corner welding for me, "A man's got to know his limitations".
All that said, I can do a stack of dimes on steel with a gas torch, but I can't keep the rod away from a tungsten to save my soul. Gas flames don't get fouled. But I did learnt hat you can 'flick' most of the aluminum off, like solder from an iron. Hey, it ain't nucular welding either- "A man's got to know his limitations".
But I'll go take a pic of the bottom.
Follow Ups: