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Tim Wescott Tim Wescott is offline
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Default Joining Aluminum without a TIG

On 09/13/2010 04:31 AM, Pete Keillor wrote:
On Sun, 12 Sep 2010 22:19:07 -0700, Tim
wrote:

On 09/12/2010 08:05 PM, Steve W. wrote:
Tim Wescott wrote:
I'm kinda thinking of making a model airplane muffler or two. These
days the things are generally cast in one piece -- but that isn't going
to work for a one-off.

These things have a header that comes off of the engine, then goes into
a tube-shaped expansion chamber. See some examples he
http://www.mecoa.com/kb/aero/aircraft.htm

I'm thinking that I can fabricate one of these with a machined header,
machined ends, and a section of tube. But it'll all be aluminum, so how
to join the pieces?

I'm assuming that JB weld won't take the heat and will just fall off.
But I'm ready to be corrected.

I don't have a TIG welder, or I'd just select TIGable materials and be
happy.

I do have an oxy-acetylene set, and I certainly know how to solder.

So -- will aluminum brazing work on this? What sort of selection do I
have as far as difficulty vs. results goes? Brands to look for? Avoid?
Places to get stuff? I'd like something that's going to be as strong
(or nearly so) as the parent material and that can be done on a welding
bench with a torch and a vise.

TIA.


I have welded a LOT of aluminum with O/A. Just need to use the same
allow for filler as you have for sheet stock. O/A was the preferred
method for joining a lot of aluminum items for years. Once you get it
down as a skill it's a LOT of fun. Plus with the O/A you can easily
remove stresses in the finished product.


Part of the reason I want to braze is because I have a lot of odds and
ends that aren't necessarily going to be easy-to-weld alloys, no matter
how nice they are to machine.

But I'll leave your suggestion in the back of my mind -- it's a good
one, and if there are such I can just stock up on alloys that are easy
to both weld and machine.


I assume you've ruled out mousse can mufflers, or the equivalent Bud
beer bottle mufflers?
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_73...tm.htm#7419797


The engine in question is .19 cubic inch, not 1.9.

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

Do you need to implement control loops in software?
"Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems" was written for you.
See details at http://www.wescottdesign.com/actfes/actfes.html