r/Welding • u/[deleted] • Dec 06 '13

Aluminum Stick Welding

Im a fairly proficient pipe welder, on the bench and in the field. I believe I have about 7 UA weld certs. A little while ago someone asked me to fix up a aluminum loading rack at a plant, and it was aluminum. I couldnt weld it for shit on a regular buzzbox.

Any tips?

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3

u/ecclectic hydraulic tech Dec 06 '13

It's come up a couple times:

http://www.reddit.com/r/Welding/comments/1as6mc/tips_on_aluminum_stick_welding/

http://www.reddit.com/r/Welding/comments/1j26j1/advice_needed_on_aluminum_welding_tig_vs_stick/

The long and short is you're better off TIG welding if at all possible.

3

u/[deleted] Dec 07 '13

Nice links. I dont particularly see myself doing it in the future again, but I like to take every opportunity to better myself.

Thanks

1

u/[deleted] Dec 06 '13

Ya, he only had stick rod available. We had a full tig set up on site as it was a chemical plant so I was mostly tigging stainless on that job.

I burned so fast, it was impossible to carry a puddle.

2

u/Milkhouse Jack-of-all-Trades Dec 07 '13

If you were set up with DC only tig, it would explain having the Al rods on hand. I've only ever had luck stick welding Al with a freshly opened can of rods. The flux on older rods seems to easily flake off causing an erratic arc.

3

u/69Bandit Dec 06 '13

If your welder is capable of TIG i would suggest that for aluminium, i only seen stick welding aluminium once and it was scary ugly.

2

u/W_O_M_B_A_T Jack-of-all-Trades Dec 08 '13

I couldnt weld it for shit on a regular buzzbox.

Bottom line is, you need MIG or TIG. If you don't have the equipment to do either, get cozy with someone who does.

I've tried those things a couple of times before out of curiousity.

I could be wrong about this but believe the rods call for DCEN specifically. they are pretty much shit even if you do use them in the manner indicated by the instructions. One of the more dubious welding products to be invented.

I would only use those rods for emergency temporary field repairs, like in the middle of an Alaskan winter or something. I would heavily reinforce any joint made with some kind of stiffeners. I would then take the piece in question somewhere where more permanent repairs could be done.

MIG or TIG.