View Full Version : TIG welding? info please
I have a rad that has an Ali core, and I want to weld ali end caps on inplace of the plastic ones that are prone to bursting (getting a coolant smell now)
Would a "budget" home TIG be good enough to weld up 2-3mm ali for this job, and is it a difficult skill to learn/teach myself?
An ali capped rad is available but it costs the same as a budget welder... I know there are consumables to go with the welder but imho its better value to buy the kit and DIY than to pay for the rad and not have anything else to show for it lol
When I did a welding crash course at uni, we were told TIG was a very specialised/skilled form of welding, one of the students does it for the formula student car but he worked with mercedes DTM for a few years before he came to uni. So I'd say it was pretty difficult, although it's never been explained to me why it's so hard to learn.
in terms of the bits used, it looks easier than MIG to me... no faffing with the wire speed etc lol
vauxluva
26-01-10, 04:25 PM
in terms of the bits used, it looks easier than MIG to me... no faffing with the wire speed etc lol:confused: im at collage just starting my tig lap joints it not easy belive u me mig is the most easy ask any1 who nows my lil sis can do mig trust your angles must be bang on on not just your tungsten tip. But also the rod angle and getting the feed bang on :thumb:. :p Sorry that didnt help go to an enginering firm they will point you were you need to go.
in terms of the bits used, it looks easier than MIG to me... no faffing with the wire speed etc lol
Yeah I thought the same when they showed us the kit, but it is apparently very difficult to do for whatever reason. The half decent welders for it are usually crazy priced too, one the uni has is about the size of a nova front end lol So I'd be a bit suspect of one thats cheaper than an ally rad?
I may be wrong, but I was under the impression you can in theory weld ali with ali mig wire? Seen a few mentions of it on welder ads/ali wire on the net etc.
How urgent would you need it back? I know a place that can do this sort of thing cheap but it may not be instant!
Count Vaux Alot
26-01-10, 06:34 PM
Very unlikely a budget tig welder would actually be capable of welding Ali most are only for mild and stainless steel only, you would need a reasonably powerful unit capadle of AC/DC and MMA output iirc to weld ali of that thickness.
And the process its self is very difficult to master imo it would be best to either pay someone else to do the repair or buy the new rad.
craig green
26-01-10, 06:43 PM
Aye, it is a bit of a black art, in the UK atleast.
Silly really, you see loads of chaps on US forums boshing together all manner of parts from Ally. Why are we so far behind?
t45_ste
26-01-10, 06:46 PM
Been talked about recently on mig
http://www.migweb.co.uk/forums/welding-fabrication-painting/420730-ally-wleding-hard-easy.html
and is it a difficult skill to learn/teach myself?
Yes it is, even if your after a half decent standard.
Nothing like MiG at all fella.
furry muff, Thought I'd ask since its rarely spoken about lol.
Would I be better migging it then?
Gary, the rad isnt a rush job as I can get a 2nd one to get made up while I play chicken with the plastic capped one lol.
vauxluva
26-01-10, 07:28 PM
Aye, it is a bit of a black art, in the UK atleast.
Silly really, you see loads of chaps on US forums boshing together all manner of parts from Ally. Why are we so far behind?us are bang on with it uk are caching up if you got the time for it it pays trust me .........females are generaly beter they normally go into the airospace industry ..its not easy but it is normaly v costly ill let uno how i get on only done and tested one joint
Count Vaux Alot
26-01-10, 07:30 PM
/\ pics? what unit are you using?
Stu speak to turbo gav on mig he is always happy to help.
it all depends how neat you want it. may mate can do it but it looks like big slugs lol
us are bang on with it uk are caching up if you got the time for it it pays trust me .........females are generaly beter they normally go into the airospace industry ..its not easy but it is normaly v costly ill let uno how i get on only done and tested one joint
its because there not so heavy handed & have a lot more patience lol sitting there with a flux rod & farty little gun making miniscule movements isnt my forté lol
vauxluva
26-01-10, 07:43 PM
its because there not so heavy handed & have a lot more patience lol sitting there with a flux rod & farty little gun making miniscule movements isnt my forté lol:thumb: lol so so true you dont no how long it takes to grasp!!:cry:
:thumb: lol so so true you dont no how long it takes to grasp!!:cry:
Im afraid I do :( i learnt by making 106 ally sump gaurds & hated every minute of it. Not that i even done a good job of making them mind....
Bungle, its not got to be pretty (its a bonus but hey), its just got to take 110Deg and 22psi of pressure :)
kevster
26-01-10, 08:57 PM
we used to tig are s/s bulid's at my old garage the guy that did it made it look like a art !! i had a go and it looked rather poo!! hat of to anyone that can do it !!
GRUNT 16V
26-01-10, 11:20 PM
If Only You Were A Bit Closer !!!!! I Could Have Done This For You !!!!
I Now Have A City And Guilds Level 2 In Alloy Tig !!!!!!
postage lol
My dad seems keen to have a go with the mig... hmm
gary_808
27-01-10, 06:38 PM
mig ally can work, itis totally different style then when doing steel, also wire etc,
i just bought my self a budget tig welder does AC/DC 160amps so enough for any thing i'll ever weld, and was half the price then most you see at that power,
just trying to teach my self now lol!
mig ally can work, itis totally different style then when doing steel, also wire etc,
i just bought my self a budget tig welder does AC/DC 160amps so enough for any thing i'll ever weld, and was half the price then most you see at that power,
just trying to teach my self now lol!
was that a one off deal, or from a shop? (linky)
gary_808
27-01-10, 06:59 PM
it's a company called r-tech welding,
got it off their ebay shop, was shop "soiled" got it and not a mark on it, mine was £700,
now they're £800 but soiled ones always come up,
really impressed with it really, all the setting's i'll ever need lol
same spec one from the likes of kempi/sealy are well over £1500
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