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MG TD TF 1500 - Alumalloy welding rods

Has anyone used these rods to fuse aluminum with a propane torch? It looks too easy. After seeing Gordons wheel, I am contemplating making a frame and rim, ...a totally custom wheel from scratch.
SEAMUS
F. HEALY

Judging from the Nardi frame, it shouldn't be too difficult... The frame's rim and spokes were all one piece ... there was a 3" disc on the top and bottom with a hole in them... could see three welds holding the three pieces together. That was the basic frame...
gordon lawson

Seamus,
the rods work well but you must realise the difference between melting the rod or the Aluminium itself is not much so a few trial welds are recommended. I have used them very sucessfully but only after some practice.

Clive
Clive Skelhorn

Seamus - Clive's got the right of it, and I've been pleased with the few times I've used the stuff, but the instructions to use a propane torch are a bit optimistic. The heat is wicked away by any large chunk of aluminum so quickly, that a propane torch, even using MAPP gas just won't keep up. I had realy good luck with oxy-acetylene, though, using a very slight carburizing flame (just a HINT of a feather on the blue). Use as large of a tip as you've got, and run the pressure kinda low, so as not to blow the metal away with the flame.

The main trick is to thoroughly "wet" the weld area with the rod, similar to tinning a joint when soldering, then bring the two pieces together, re-heat, and lay in more rod as a filler metal. Ordinary children's Play-Doh will work as a dam, or you can get a better (more expensive) product a most welding supply stores.

Best of luck - sounds like a fun project. - - Alec
Alec Darnall

I have used the Alumaloy rods to repair broken flanges on aluminum carbs, and a manifold repair. I managed with a MAP torch, but also used a heat sink. I was leery about using a larger torch as I was afraid of my skill level with aluminum :>) I found it important to not only degrease and clean the aluminum very well, but to also clean it with a wire brush, stainless I believe, IMMEDIATELY before application. Then as Alec said, tin each part before welding, or trying to build up an area. The result was good metal that could be drilled, filed and probably machined.
I practiced on a junk carb first and got the feel for it fairly quickly.
Dallas
Dallas Congleton

Not sure I would want to trust a steering wheel held together with no more than aluminium solder. Best to get a professional welder to gas or tig weld it.
Henry

I used these rods to fix a boat rack once. I had a devil of a time fusing the aluminum without melting it. On larger pieces of aluminum the head is drawn too quickly into the metal. The trick is to preheat the entire piece to several hundred degrees before welding. Be careful not to warp it
russ Oakley

Hi All,---- I've used similiar rod to build UHF antenna's. Worked really well with the 1/8" aluminum clothesline wire. I think welding shops call it aluminum brazing rod (although it has no brass in it). Tried it on bigger tubing but could not get enough heat from a propane torch, didn't have oxy-acetelene at the time.
Good luck with your endevors, let us know how it works!
Cheers,
Bob
R. K. (Bob) Jeffers

This thread was discussed between 27/11/2005 and 28/11/2005

MG TD TF 1500 index

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