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Metalworking (rec.crafts.metalworking) Discuss various aspects of working with metal, such as machining, welding, metal joining, screwing, casting, hardening/tempering, blacksmithing/forging, spinning and hammer work, sheet metal work. |
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Aluminum stick welding rod..field report
I purchased a pound of AL435 aluminum stick welding rod a couple of
weeks ago, just to futz around with. Today I got it out and played with it. The stuff WORKS. Rather amazing how well it works. But damn it burns fast. Electrode positive, about 50 amps, and I was fillet and butt welding scrap pieces of 6061 T6 (3/8" plate) with no preheat and getting surprisingly good penetration and fill. While Im not sure Id want to fly in an airplane welded by me, with this stuff, its more than suitable for putting Stuff together with. As fast as it burns, I stitch welded a pair of 1" welds in fillet and a 1" weld on the backside of a L assembly of 3/8 plate..then beat the snot out of it with a 2lb hammer. The assembly was Very deformed before the welds started to fail and examination showed deep penetration into the parent metal. Slag was quickly removed with a wire brush in just a couple swipes. The rod smells distinctly different when burning. Actually kinda pleasant smelling G. An odd property, at least to me, a newbie, was too much heat simply melted the rod and did very little to the parent material. It simply flowed over the plate like braze, with little penetration. For those of you who do not have a TIG machine and need to weld up aluminum, all you need for rough welding, is a DC welding machine . Ill be using more of this stuff in the future. At 50 amps for the smaller rod, this stuff could be used by somone with one of the cheapy Harbor Freight machines, as long as it has DC. I didnt think to try it with AC, but I will. The data sheet spec'd DC Positive, so thats what I ran. Gunner Come shed a tear for Michael Moore- Though he smirked and lied like a two-bit whore George Bush has just won another four. Poor, sad little Michael Moore Diogenes |
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Gunner wrote:
I purchased a pound of AL435 aluminum stick welding rod a couple of weeks ago, just to futz around with. Today I got it out and played with it. The stuff WORKS. Rather amazing how well it works. But damn it burns fast. Electrode positive, about 50 amps, and I was fillet and butt welding scrap pieces of 6061 T6 (3/8" plate) with no preheat and getting surprisingly good penetration and fill. While Im not sure Id want to fly in an airplane welded by me, with this stuff, its more than suitable for putting Stuff together with. As fast as it burns, I stitch welded a pair of 1" welds in fillet and a 1" weld on the backside of a L assembly of 3/8 plate..then beat the snot out of it with a 2lb hammer. The assembly was Very deformed before the welds started to fail and examination showed deep penetration into the parent metal. Slag was quickly removed with a wire brush in just a couple swipes. The rod smells distinctly different when burning. Actually kinda pleasant smelling G. An odd property, at least to me, a newbie, was too much heat simply melted the rod and did very little to the parent material. It simply flowed over the plate like braze, with little penetration. For those of you who do not have a TIG machine and need to weld up aluminum, all you need for rough welding, is a DC welding machine . Ill be using more of this stuff in the future. At 50 amps for the smaller rod, this stuff could be used by somone with one of the cheapy Harbor Freight machines, as long as it has DC. I didnt think to try it with AC, but I will. The data sheet spec'd DC Positive, so thats what I ran. Gunner Come shed a tear for Michael Moore- Though he smirked and lied like a two-bit whore George Bush has just won another four. Poor, sad little Michael Moore Diogenes I have a heli-arc, but this sure sounds interesting. No argon, no pre-heat. Not to mention the 25 dollar jump in the power bill when I do a project with aluminum. Thanks for the report. Where didja get the rods? |
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On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 11:23:36 GMT, Beachcooler
wrote: Come shed a tear for Michael Moore- Though he smirked and lied like a two-bit whore George Bush has just won another four. Poor, sad little Michael Moore Diogenes I have a heli-arc, but this sure sounds interesting. No argon, no pre-heat. Not to mention the 25 dollar jump in the power bill when I do a project with aluminum. Thanks for the report. Where didja get the rods? Most welding supply companies carry it. It is also called AL-43 and other names. Gunner Come shed a tear for Michael Moore- Though he smirked and lied like a two-bit whore George Bush has just won another four. Poor, sad little Michael Moore Diogenes |
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I am currently taking welding courses at my local community college. We
used the aluminium rods from Hi-Alloy. They do not work at all on AC... "Gunner" wrote in message ... On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 11:23:36 GMT, Beachcooler wrote: Come shed a tear for Michael Moore- Though he smirked and lied like a two-bit whore George Bush has just won another four. Poor, sad little Michael Moore Diogenes I have a heli-arc, but this sure sounds interesting. No argon, no pre-heat. Not to mention the 25 dollar jump in the power bill when I do a project with aluminum. Thanks for the report. Where didja get the rods? Most welding supply companies carry it. It is also called AL-43 and other names. Gunner Come shed a tear for Michael Moore- Though he smirked and lied like a two-bit whore George Bush has just won another four. Poor, sad little Michael Moore Diogenes |
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Gunner, what thickness is the rod you are using? I haven't ever tried to buy
AL rod -- I assume that the "435" designates something about the alloy -- ?? Let us know what happens when you try it using AC. Andy "Gunner" wrote in message ... I purchased a pound of AL435 aluminum stick welding rod a couple of weeks ago, just to futz around with. Today I got it out and played with it. The stuff WORKS. Rather amazing how well it works. But damn it burns fast. Electrode positive, about 50 amps, and I was fillet and butt welding scrap pieces of 6061 T6 (3/8" plate) with no preheat and getting surprisingly good penetration and fill. While Im not sure Id want to fly in an airplane welded by me, with this stuff, its more than suitable for putting Stuff together with. As fast as it burns, I stitch welded a pair of 1" welds in fillet and a 1" weld on the backside of a L assembly of 3/8 plate..then beat the snot out of it with a 2lb hammer. The assembly was Very deformed before the welds started to fail and examination showed deep penetration into the parent metal. Slag was quickly removed with a wire brush in just a couple swipes. The rod smells distinctly different when burning. Actually kinda pleasant smelling G. An odd property, at least to me, a newbie, was too much heat simply melted the rod and did very little to the parent material. It simply flowed over the plate like braze, with little penetration. For those of you who do not have a TIG machine and need to weld up aluminum, all you need for rough welding, is a DC welding machine . Ill be using more of this stuff in the future. At 50 amps for the smaller rod, this stuff could be used by somone with one of the cheapy Harbor Freight machines, as long as it has DC. I didnt think to try it with AC, but I will. The data sheet spec'd DC Positive, so thats what I ran. Gunner Come shed a tear for Michael Moore- Though he smirked and lied like a two-bit whore George Bush has just won another four. Poor, sad little Michael Moore Diogenes |
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On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 09:24:20 -0500, "Andrew H. Wakefield"
wrote: Gunner, what thickness is the rod you are using? I haven't ever tried to buy AL rod -- I assume that the "435" designates something about the alloy -- ?? It was 3/32" IRRC, a bit smaller than 1/8" Let us know what happens when you try it using AC. I will, but suspect it wont work worth a damned due to the required heating mode of electrode positive. Gunner Andy "Gunner" wrote in message .. . I purchased a pound of AL435 aluminum stick welding rod a couple of weeks ago, just to futz around with. Today I got it out and played with it. The stuff WORKS. Rather amazing how well it works. But damn it burns fast. Electrode positive, about 50 amps, and I was fillet and butt welding scrap pieces of 6061 T6 (3/8" plate) with no preheat and getting surprisingly good penetration and fill. While Im not sure Id want to fly in an airplane welded by me, with this stuff, its more than suitable for putting Stuff together with. As fast as it burns, I stitch welded a pair of 1" welds in fillet and a 1" weld on the backside of a L assembly of 3/8 plate..then beat the snot out of it with a 2lb hammer. The assembly was Very deformed before the welds started to fail and examination showed deep penetration into the parent metal. Slag was quickly removed with a wire brush in just a couple swipes. The rod smells distinctly different when burning. Actually kinda pleasant smelling G. An odd property, at least to me, a newbie, was too much heat simply melted the rod and did very little to the parent material. It simply flowed over the plate like braze, with little penetration. For those of you who do not have a TIG machine and need to weld up aluminum, all you need for rough welding, is a DC welding machine . Ill be using more of this stuff in the future. At 50 amps for the smaller rod, this stuff could be used by somone with one of the cheapy Harbor Freight machines, as long as it has DC. I didnt think to try it with AC, but I will. The data sheet spec'd DC Positive, so thats what I ran. Gunner Come shed a tear for Michael Moore- Though he smirked and lied like a two-bit whore George Bush has just won another four. Poor, sad little Michael Moore Diogenes Come shed a tear for Michael Moore- Though he smirked and lied like a two-bit whore George Bush has just won another four. Poor, sad little Michael Moore Diogenes |
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"Andrew H. Wakefield" wrote in message ... Gunner, what thickness is the rod you are using? I haven't ever tried to buy AL rod -- I assume that the "435" designates something about the alloy -- ?? Let us know what happens when you try it using AC. how about some pictures instead? http://metalworking.com/DropBox/_2002_retired_files/ aluminum-truck-abortion1.JPG aluminum-truck-abortion2.JPG aluminum-truck-abortion3.JPG aluminum-truck-abortion4.JPG this is an 18 wheel truck a guy drove by fully loaded with gravel for me to "fix up temporarily" for him. They had attempted to "repair" it before they came over and "something" had gone wrong. I don't know for sure if it was AC or DC, my guess is whatever ****s it up worse than any other method is the process they went with out of pure primal instinct. no, I didn't fix it. yes, I didn't even try. yes, I did call DPS on them for driving it off after I told them to park it before they killed somebody. |
#8
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On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 17:05:10 -0700, "Blackout"
vaguely proposed a theory .......and in reply I say!: remove ns from my header address to reply via email Came up as a dead site for me. how about some pictures instead? http://metalworking.com/DropBox/_2002_retired_files/ |
#9
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Hey Gunner,
You should not be inhaling the fumes from welding aluminum, or you will kill enough brain cells to become a Democrat. |
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On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 09:38:27 -0700, handsomestranger
wrote: Hey Gunner, You should not be inhaling the fumes from welding aluminum, or you will kill enough brain cells to become a Democrat. Indeed. Im always careful to weld outside. G Gunner Come shed a tear for Michael Moore- Though he smirked and lied like a two-bit whore George Bush has just won another four. Poor, sad little Michael Moore Diogenes |
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On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 19:04:12 GMT, Gunner
vaguely proposed a theory .......and in reply I say!: remove ns from my header address to reply via email On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 09:38:27 -0700, handsomestranger wrote: Hey Gunner, You should not be inhaling the fumes from welding aluminum, or you will kill enough brain cells to become a Democrat. Indeed. Im always careful to weld outside. G If you can smell it you are inhaling it. |
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Gunner wrote in message . ..
I purchased a pound of AL435 aluminum stick welding rod a couple of weeks ago, just to futz around with. Today I got it out and played with it. The stuff WORKS. Rather amazing how well it works. But damn it burns fast. Come back in a month, will you? The stuff works, but the rods do not keep when the pack is open. They are very sensitive to humidity. It also helps a lot if you pre-heat the workpieces. For those of you who do not have a TIG machine and need to weld up aluminum, all you need for rough welding, is a DC welding machine . Ill be using more of this stuff in the future. At 50 amps for the smaller rod, this stuff could be used by somone with one of the cheapy Harbor Freight machines, as long as it has DC. I didnt think to try it with AC, but I will. The data sheet spec'd DC Positive, so thats what I ran. The ideal machine for those rods is one of those cheapies lunchbox sized inverters. They work in DC. |
#13
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On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 19:14:02 GMT, Gunner
vaguely proposed a theory .......and in reply I say!: remove ns from my header address to reply via email I am trying to start not KFing you again Gunner, because you have laid off the _posted_ rants. But if you keep slipping the sort of **** you quote below in, I find it very hard. I do not agree with what I _think_ the below is trying to say (I am not quite sure) but whatever, it has annoying logic holes in it, as is so often the case in situations where people "talk politely and try to work out a solution to problems". Gunner "I mean, when's the last time you heard of a college where the Young Republicans staged a "Sit In" to close down the Humanities building? On the flip side, how many sit in's were staged to close the ROTC building back in the '60's? Liberals stage protests, do civil disobedience, etc. Conservatives talk politely and try to work out a solution to problems through discourse until they believe that talking won't work... they they go home and open the gun cabinets. Pray things never get to the point where the conservatives decide that "civil disobedience" is the next step, because that's a very short route to "voting from the rooftops" Jeffrey Swartz, Misc.Survivalism |
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On Wed, 01 Dec 2004 08:10:51 +0800, Old Nick
wrote: On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 19:14:02 GMT, Gunner vaguely proposed a theory ......and in reply I say!: remove ns from my header address to reply via email I am trying to start not KFing you again Gunner, because you have laid off the _posted_ rants. But if you keep slipping the sort of **** you quote below in, I find it very hard. I do not agree with what I _think_ the below is trying to say (I am not quite sure) but whatever, it has annoying logic holes in it, as is so often the case in situations where people "talk politely and try to work out a solution to problems". Its a sig. A quote or statement from someone else that the poster considers to be of import, or of humor or of some other significance. In this particular quote from Mr. Swarze..I believe there to be a rather large grain of truth. Boulder sized in fact. Take it as you wish. As has been noted many times recently before and after the just completed election..the country is in a cusp period, with a very very very wide ideological divide between two segments of society. One side is still refusing to believe that their ideological control of the nation has slipped away from them. The other side took control as they had finally had enough of the actions and ideology of the other side. Shrug..so the Left side and its ideologs still continue to push, push push and in their desperation, are becoming more and more agressive and militant. A good case in point would be the ELF. They have a long history of arson, vandalism and murder. Their slightly more moderate ideological bretheran have largely been giving them a pass, or even tacit approval. The ELFs actions are becoming more and more desperate, and they will sooner or later step completly over the edge. They will then reap what they have sown as those who have been their victims crush them. It may indeed be from the roof tops and it may be organizations other than the ELF...but that day is likely not too far in the future. Shrug. We can only hope it never happens, but frankly..some folks cannot be negotiated with and I dont hold out much hope that they will moderate their stances or agendas or actions, and for that..they will likely die. We do live in "interesting times" Gunner Gunner "I mean, when's the last time you heard of a college where the Young Republicans staged a "Sit In" to close down the Humanities building? On the flip side, how many sit in's were staged to close the ROTC building back in the '60's? Liberals stage protests, do civil disobedience, etc. Conservatives talk politely and try to work out a solution to problems through discourse until they believe that talking won't work... they they go home and open the gun cabinets. Pray things never get to the point where the conservatives decide that "civil disobedience" is the next step, because that's a very short route to "voting from the rooftops" Jeffrey Swartz, Misc.Survivalism "I mean, when's the last time you heard of a college where the Young Republicans staged a "Sit In" to close down the Humanities building? On the flip side, how many sit in's were staged to close the ROTC building back in the '60's? Liberals stage protests, do civil disobedience, etc. Conservatives talk politely and try to work out a solution to problems through discourse until they believe that talking won't work... they they go home and open the gun cabinets. Pray things never get to the point where the conservatives decide that "civil disobedience" is the next step, because that's a very short route to "voting from the rooftops" Jeffrey Swartz, Misc.Survivalism |
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On Wed, 01 Dec 2004 07:23:15 GMT, Gunner
vaguely proposed a theory .......and in reply I say!: remove ns from my header address to reply via email You apparently don't get it. Read John Le Carre's book "The Secret Pilgrim", and the chapter about Britta (sp?), the German IRA (or insert (pun intended) whatever else you want) "lady". |
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Gunner wrote:
On 29 Nov 2004 23:37:56 -0800, (jerry_tig2003) wrote: Gunner wrote in message . .. I purchased a pound of AL435 aluminum stick welding rod a couple of weeks ago, just to futz around with. Today I got it out and played with it. The stuff WORKS. Rather amazing how well it works. But damn it burns fast. Come back in a month, will you? The stuff works, but the rods do not keep when the pack is open. They are very sensitive to humidity. My pound of rod has been open for at least 3 weeks and stored on a shelf in the middle of my back yard, during the foggy season. Seems to as yet, not been too effected. Im going to have to figure out how to dry all my 7018 as it appears to be a bit damp as the coating tends to flake off. Since I have yet to build my rod cooker/container - I put a large cookie sheet on our propane Barbie - and turned on three sets of burners [Nice big one :-) ] Then I regulated it to the proper temp and let it set - then added a double handful of rods. The rods outgassed for some time - and I cooked them for an hour or so. Then I let them cool down (still inside the Barbie) as I setup my plastic sealing machine (made for food). I took a chunk of old coke box (thin compressed carboard) and bent a 4" wide with a 4x6 chunk. The holder end (with the sharp end edges that one clips into the rod holder). Grabbed a small handful (precision weight naturally) put the sharp ends in the cardboard and kept them within it as I thrust that end down deep into a long plastic bag. Bag longer than needed for re-sealing. Once fully in, set it up to pump down the internal air (and any added moisture) keeping the sharp ends in the cardboard all the while. Once completed, the set is held tightly and is rigid. Store in box, on the shelf, where you wish. Cut the area along the seal, drag out the rods needed or as needed and reseal when completed for another day. Stick number color power diam cook hold 7018MR E7018 Gray AC/DC+ 3/32 275 175 I cut it out of a chart I created for my sticks. Martin It also helps a lot if you pre-heat the workpieces. Ill indeed try that the next time. For those of you who do not have a TIG machine and need to weld up aluminum, all you need for rough welding, is a DC welding machine . Ill be using more of this stuff in the future. At 50 amps for the smaller rod, this stuff could be used by somone with one of the cheapy Harbor Freight machines, as long as it has DC. I didnt think to try it with AC, but I will. The data sheet spec'd DC Positive, so thats what I ran. The ideal machine for those rods is one of those cheapies lunchbox sized inverters. They work in DC. That would appear to be true. Gunner "I mean, when's the last time you heard of a college where the Young Republicans staged a "Sit In" to close down the Humanities building? On the flip side, how many sit in's were staged to close the ROTC building back in the '60's? Liberals stage protests, do civil disobedience, etc. Conservatives talk politely and try to work out a solution to problems through discourse until they believe that talking won't work... they they go home and open the gun cabinets. Pray things never get to the point where the conservatives decide that "civil disobedience" is the next step, because that's a very short route to "voting from the rooftops" Jeffrey Swartz, Misc.Survivalism -- Martin Eastburn, Barbara Eastburn @ home at Lion's Lair with our computer NRA LOH, NRA Life NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder |
#18
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On Wed, 01 Dec 2004 05:50:45 GMT, "Martin H. Eastburn"
wrote: Gunner wrote: On 29 Nov 2004 23:37:56 -0800, (jerry_tig2003) wrote: Gunner wrote in message . .. I purchased a pound of AL435 aluminum stick welding rod a couple of weeks ago, just to futz around with. Today I got it out and played with it. The stuff WORKS. Rather amazing how well it works. But damn it burns fast. Come back in a month, will you? The stuff works, but the rods do not keep when the pack is open. They are very sensitive to humidity. My pound of rod has been open for at least 3 weeks and stored on a shelf in the middle of my back yard, during the foggy season. Seems to as yet, not been too effected. Im going to have to figure out how to dry all my 7018 as it appears to be a bit damp as the coating tends to flake off. Since I have yet to build my rod cooker/container - I put a large cookie sheet on our propane Barbie - and turned on three sets of burners [Nice big one :-) ] Then I regulated it to the proper temp and let it set - then added a double handful of rods. The rods outgassed for some time - and I cooked them for an hour or so. Then I let them cool down (still inside the Barbie) as I setup my plastic sealing machine (made for food). I took a chunk of old coke box (thin compressed carboard) and bent a 4" wide with a 4x6 chunk. The holder end (with the sharp end edges that one clips into the rod holder). Grabbed a small handful (precision weight naturally) put the sharp ends in the cardboard and kept them within it as I thrust that end down deep into a long plastic bag. Bag longer than needed for re-sealing. Once fully in, set it up to pump down the internal air (and any added moisture) keeping the sharp ends in the cardboard all the while. Once completed, the set is held tightly and is rigid. Store in box, on the shelf, where you wish. Cut the area along the seal, drag out the rods needed or as needed and reseal when completed for another day. Stick number color power diam cook hold 7018MR E7018 Gray AC/DC+ 3/32 275 175 I cut it out of a chart I created for my sticks. Martin I was given an entire spool of heating element wire last week. A flat ribbon about 3/16 in its width..I wonder if I should make a rod oven? Gunner It also helps a lot if you pre-heat the workpieces. Ill indeed try that the next time. For those of you who do not have a TIG machine and need to weld up aluminum, all you need for rough welding, is a DC welding machine . Ill be using more of this stuff in the future. At 50 amps for the smaller rod, this stuff could be used by somone with one of the cheapy Harbor Freight machines, as long as it has DC. I didnt think to try it with AC, but I will. The data sheet spec'd DC Positive, so thats what I ran. The ideal machine for those rods is one of those cheapies lunchbox sized inverters. They work in DC. That would appear to be true. Gunner "I mean, when's the last time you heard of a college where the Young Republicans staged a "Sit In" to close down the Humanities building? On the flip side, how many sit in's were staged to close the ROTC building back in the '60's? Liberals stage protests, do civil disobedience, etc. Conservatives talk politely and try to work out a solution to problems through discourse until they believe that talking won't work... they they go home and open the gun cabinets. Pray things never get to the point where the conservatives decide that "civil disobedience" is the next step, because that's a very short route to "voting from the rooftops" Jeffrey Swartz, Misc.Survivalism "I mean, when's the last time you heard of a college where the Young Republicans staged a "Sit In" to close down the Humanities building? On the flip side, how many sit in's were staged to close the ROTC building back in the '60's? Liberals stage protests, do civil disobedience, etc. Conservatives talk politely and try to work out a solution to problems through discourse until they believe that talking won't work... they they go home and open the gun cabinets. Pray things never get to the point where the conservatives decide that "civil disobedience" is the next step, because that's a very short route to "voting from the rooftops" Jeffrey Swartz, Misc.Survivalism |
#19
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No need to get too fancy; I have seen rod ovens made from a lightbulb in an
old refrigerator... |
#20
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Gunner wrote:
On Wed, 01 Dec 2004 05:50:45 GMT, "Martin H. Eastburn" wrote: Gunner wrote: On 29 Nov 2004 23:37:56 -0800, (jerry_tig2003) wrote: Gunner wrote in message . .. I purchased a pound of AL435 aluminum stick welding rod a couple of weeks ago, just to futz around with. Today I got it out and played with it. The stuff WORKS. Rather amazing how well it works. But damn it burns fast. Come back in a month, will you? The stuff works, but the rods do not keep when the pack is open. They are very sensitive to humidity. My pound of rod has been open for at least 3 weeks and stored on a shelf in the middle of my back yard, during the foggy season. Seems to as yet, not been too effected. Im going to have to figure out how to dry all my 7018 as it appears to be a bit damp as the coating tends to flake off. Since I have yet to build my rod cooker/container - I put a large cookie sheet on our propane Barbie - and turned on three sets of burners [Nice big one :-) ] Then I regulated it to the proper temp and let it set - then added a double handful of rods. The rods outgassed for some time - and I cooked them for an hour or so. Then I let them cool down (still inside the Barbie) as I setup my plastic sealing machine (made for food). I took a chunk of old coke box (thin compressed carboard) and bent a 4" wide with a 4x6 chunk. The holder end (with the sharp end edges that one clips into the rod holder). Grabbed a small handful (precision weight naturally) put the sharp ends in the cardboard and kept them within it as I thrust that end down deep into a long plastic bag. Bag longer than needed for re-sealing. Once fully in, set it up to pump down the internal air (and any added moisture) keeping the sharp ends in the cardboard all the while. Once completed, the set is held tightly and is rigid. Store in box, on the shelf, where you wish. Cut the area along the seal, drag out the rods needed or as needed and reseal when completed for another day. Stick number color power diam cook hold 7018MR E7018 Gray AC/DC+ 3/32 275 175 I cut it out of a chart I created for my sticks. Martin I was given an entire spool of heating element wire last week. A flat ribbon about 3/16 in its width..I wonder if I should make a rod oven? Gunner The ribbon heating element wire lasts and lasts. It seems that a 2-D burn does in wire, but can't do it on ribbons. I have some Mil-spec heaters mounted within heat sinks that I'll build one up with. Surplus naturally. Might try doing a temp controller to idle and not increase and increase. Martin -- Martin Eastburn, Barbara Eastburn @ home at Lion's Lair with our computer NRA LOH, NRA Life NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder |
#21
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Gunner wrote:
I purchased a pound of AL435 aluminum stick welding rod a couple of weeks ago, just to futz around with. Today I got it out and played with it. The stuff WORKS. Rather amazing how well it works. But damn it burns fast. Electrode positive, about 50 amps, and I was fillet and butt welding scrap pieces of 6061 T6 (3/8" plate) with no preheat and getting surprisingly good penetration and fill. While Im not sure Id want to fly in an airplane welded by me, with this stuff, its more than suitable for putting Stuff together with. As fast as it burns, I stitch welded a pair of 1" welds in fillet and a 1" weld on the backside of a L assembly of 3/8 plate..then beat the snot out of it with a 2lb hammer. The assembly was Very deformed before the welds started to fail and examination showed deep penetration into the parent metal. Slag was quickly removed with a wire brush in just a couple swipes. The rod smells distinctly different when burning. Actually kinda pleasant smelling G. An odd property, at least to me, a newbie, was too much heat simply melted the rod and did very little to the parent material. It simply flowed over the plate like braze, with little penetration. For those of you who do not have a TIG machine and need to weld up aluminum, all you need for rough welding, is a DC welding machine . Ill be using more of this stuff in the future. At 50 amps for the smaller rod, this stuff could be used by somone with one of the cheapy Harbor Freight machines, as long as it has DC. I didnt think to try it with AC, but I will. The data sheet spec'd DC Positive, so thats what I ran. Gunner Come shed a tear for Michael Moore- Though he smirked and lied like a two-bit whore George Bush has just won another four. Poor, sad little Michael Moore Diogenes 'Nother question: what kind of amps for say, 1/4" stuff? |
#22
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On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 11:14:44 GMT, Beachcooler
wrote: Gunner wrote: I purchased a pound of AL435 aluminum stick welding rod a couple of weeks ago, just to futz around with. Today I got it out and played with it. The stuff WORKS. Rather amazing how well it works. But damn it burns fast. Electrode positive, about 50 amps, and I was fillet and butt welding scrap pieces of 6061 T6 (3/8" plate) with no preheat and getting surprisingly good penetration and fill. While Im not sure Id want to fly in an airplane welded by me, with this stuff, its more than suitable for putting Stuff together with. As fast as it burns, I stitch welded a pair of 1" welds in fillet and a 1" weld on the backside of a L assembly of 3/8 plate..then beat the snot out of it with a 2lb hammer. The assembly was Very deformed before the welds started to fail and examination showed deep penetration into the parent metal. Slag was quickly removed with a wire brush in just a couple swipes. The rod smells distinctly different when burning. Actually kinda pleasant smelling G. An odd property, at least to me, a newbie, was too much heat simply melted the rod and did very little to the parent material. It simply flowed over the plate like braze, with little penetration. For those of you who do not have a TIG machine and need to weld up aluminum, all you need for rough welding, is a DC welding machine . Ill be using more of this stuff in the future. At 50 amps for the smaller rod, this stuff could be used by somone with one of the cheapy Harbor Freight machines, as long as it has DC. I didnt think to try it with AC, but I will. The data sheet spec'd DC Positive, so thats what I ran. Gunner Come shed a tear for Michael Moore- Though he smirked and lied like a two-bit whore George Bush has just won another four. Poor, sad little Michael Moore Diogenes 'Nother question: what kind of amps for say, 1/4" stuff? Id have to say somewhere between 35 and 50 amps. Test piece of course. Gunner "I mean, when's the last time you heard of a college where the Young Republicans staged a "Sit In" to close down the Humanities building? On the flip side, how many sit in's were staged to close the ROTC building back in the '60's? Liberals stage protests, do civil disobedience, etc. Conservatives talk politely and try to work out a solution to problems through discourse until they believe that talking won't work... they they go home and open the gun cabinets. Pray things never get to the point where the conservatives decide that "civil disobedience" is the next step, because that's a very short route to "voting from the rooftops" Jeffrey Swartz, Misc.Survivalism |
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Gunner wrote:
On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 11:14:44 GMT, Beachcooler wrote: Gunner wrote: I purchased a pound of AL435 aluminum stick welding rod a couple of weeks ago, just to futz around with. Today I got it out and played with it. The stuff WORKS. Rather amazing how well it works. But damn it burns fast. Electrode positive, about 50 amps, and I was fillet and butt welding scrap pieces of 6061 T6 (3/8" plate) with no preheat and getting surprisingly good penetration and fill. While Im not sure Id want to fly in an airplane welded by me, with this stuff, its more than suitable for putting Stuff together with. As fast as it burns, I stitch welded a pair of 1" welds in fillet and a 1" weld on the backside of a L assembly of 3/8 plate..then beat the snot out of it with a 2lb hammer. The assembly was Very deformed before the welds started to fail and examination showed deep penetration into the parent metal. Slag was quickly removed with a wire brush in just a couple swipes. The rod smells distinctly different when burning. Actually kinda pleasant smelling G. An odd property, at least to me, a newbie, was too much heat simply melted the rod and did very little to the parent material. It simply flowed over the plate like braze, with little penetration. For those of you who do not have a TIG machine and need to weld up aluminum, all you need for rough welding, is a DC welding machine . Ill be using more of this stuff in the future. At 50 amps for the smaller rod, this stuff could be used by somone with one of the cheapy Harbor Freight machines, as long as it has DC. I didnt think to try it with AC, but I will. The data sheet spec'd DC Positive, so thats what I ran. Gunner Come shed a tear for Michael Moore- Though he smirked and lied like a two-bit whore George Bush has just won another four. Poor, sad little Michael Moore Diogenes 'Nother question: what kind of amps for say, 1/4" stuff? Id have to say somewhere between 35 and 50 amps. Test piece of course. Gunner Thanks. Now off to National Welders..... |
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