Alumi-weld!! wow!!

[CKMATE225]

I just tried some of those alumi-weld rods they sell on TV late at night. I tried it on a couple of clean pieces of 1/8 in aluminum flat stock. I am super impressed with the strength of the "weld". I laped the two together on only one edge and tried to pry them apart and the aluminim was bending and was going to break. I couldn't get them the break at the joint I had made. and this was the first shot with the stuff.
I certainly wouldn't fly in an airplaine repaired with it or trust it to anything structural. But for a crack repair or filling a hole or a broken bolt ear, where the heat of tig welding would be an issue, I would give this stuff a shot without question.
Surface prep is crititical. the aluminim needs to be clean a brushing with a stainless steel brush just before you start to knock off the oxide, heat with propane to about 730F is about all you need to make it work.

You can buy it at harbor frieght for 15 bucks a tube of 8 rods in the welding section.

[perfmarine1]

Just remember,If you use that crap,don't think : I will try this if it don't work I can have it welded. Because it is very hard if no impossible to weld where that crap has been used!! Just sayin!

[CKMATE225]

I agree 100%, I beleive there is some zink or'mystery ingrediant" in there that would cause some real issues coming back to tig it where it would definitly have to be completely ground away. Thats why I mentioned "Where the heat from tig welding would be an issue".
This stuff definitly has its place for filling or crack repair . My 14 y.o. son is going to try it on an old aluminum jon boat the neighbor gave him, it has a couple small leaks in the corners and I think it will be perfect for this type of repair. Where otherwize the thing would go to scrap.( and it probabaly will once hes done melting it ;)).

[perfmarine1]

The key to your sucess in post #1 was clean stock, when that mystery ingredent gets in the pours of the aluminum you are done as far as welding,simpley grinding it off won't work. I am sure you will find it much harder to apply to old aluminum. As is welding. Just sayin

[rev.ronnie]

I agree 100%, I beleive there is some zink or'mystery ingrediant" in there that would cause some real issues coming back to tig it where it would definitly have to be completely ground away. Thats why I mentioned "Where the heat from tig welding would be an issue".
This stuff definitly has its place for filling or crack repair . My 14 y.o. son is going to try it on an old aluminum jon boat the neighbor gave him, it has a couple small leaks in the corners and I think it will be perfect for this type of repair. Where otherwize the thing would go to scrap.( and it probabaly will once hes done melting it ;)).

Try 3M panel bond 8115 to fix that boat. You will not believe this stuff. It will fix anything. I have repaired cylinder heads where the intake ports leaked water due to porosity and porting.

It is an unbelievable product, you will need an auto mix gun though. Try a body shop and see if you can buy some and borrow a gun.