http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9762 First off, I can't tig weld aluminum for spit.. I try.. my eyesight is getting poor as I age. I found a trick, as per the discussion on Metalmeet to putting copper behind the weld. DOING the welds, clamp the copper behind the holes.. get the tig torch in the hole light it up and "PUSH" the rod in to make a puddle, once puddle is large enough to fill hole make a circle p*** to melt it all together around the hole. DONE.. no sagging, no fall out.. (on your shoes) and easy as pie. I can't wait to try that on cab corners and patch panels. I then bead blasted the valve covers, took a 4 1/2" sander lap pad on a grinder and knocked down the bead flat.. it was not porous and disappeared. I could have stopped there, but no.. I fired up the "modified kitchen oven, a simple oven with the back extended another 12 inches.. Slid the valve covers in, got them to 400 degrees, pulled the hot rascals out and shot the pc black on them.. I could have stopped there, but no.. I took the gasket-cleaner rig with the scotchbrite pad on it and buffed off the fins and name.. then heated it back up and shot clear on it.. (that's where I should have stopped for sure) but the clear I got had lumps. So I got what I got.. not perfect, but I am not too good at car shows anyways.. Valve covers cost $20 with them breathers mounted on it at the Dalton (NW GA) Car show Saturday.. I guesstimate having now 5 times that in them. But as you know any hotrod parts.. you put more in than you can get out.. time and money. I hesitated to shoot any more clean on them tall valve covers.. they are staying satin black.. So, Junk kitchen oven + $20 Meet valve covers + $5 sander pad + $2 worth of welding rod + four hours of my life = a set of coated valve covers. These may end up wall hangers.. or?? I may buy every cheap set I see from now on.
Anneal? No, but I did bless them a few times. (or was that a blessing?) That aluminum is pretty forgiving, thou Pre-post heat is important.. I didn't do either.. it annealed when it came out of the oven..cooled slowly.. Oil contamination was my worry. Years ago, I busted the cap-shifter on the transmission on my 58 Harley, the worst thing in the world is OLD porous aluminum with oil soaked into it.. NO clue how to get it out.. I was so afraid these would be like that.. when trying to weld that transmission made a Nasty carbonized black, porous mess.. I had to buy another. Then fit it all together.. then time it.. it was a mess. I'm still learning.. Just cause I bought a welding machine don't mean I am a welder. I've worked with welders on Nuclear jobs, as a electrician.
I'm still learning.. Just cause I bought a welding machine don't mean I am a welder. QUOTE] A welder is someone who welds everyday. I know how to weld but I am not a welder.
yah same here, i have a tig machine but rarely use it. I just dont have broken aluminum things to fix.
Tell me about it. I can only weld now with my face either 8 inches from the work without my gl***es or 18 inches from it with them. To say it's effected my welding skills in the least is an understatement. Didn't see it coming either. (no pun intended) All you under 45 crowd are in for a rude awakening one day..
Well it accomplishes one thing? I don't have to trim my beard when I weld, it burns back to the helmet. Laid around for a while not welding or doing much, rode a buddies bike down to get it serviced while he was in Iraq.. my beard was blowing up into my eyes. I think I made them "new age" motor-sprinkler guys nervous around the HD Tee shirt store..
The Jalopy Journal
