Reading all of the previous comments I feel compelled to express that using one process well in no way diminishes the value of other processes nor the skills of others. Different processes excel in various applications. Kent's a master with o/f and aluminum (and other materials) and his willingness to show what can be done and how is appreciated. That shouldn't threaten someone else who is a master of TIG or MIG or Stick. Use what you have, improve where you can, appreciate others' skills.
One big advantage this process has is the scrubbing action of the flux in the weld pool. Its very effective at removing absorbed nitrogen and contamination, floating it to the surface. The welds end up being having a higher density than a tig weld in the same material, and so tend to have a higher high-cycle fatigue life, higher ductility, and much less prone to pinhole leaks. In the world of aluminum sheet metal welding, O/F still is a very viable process.
That is damn impressive! iv'e been working with metal for 25 years, and this dude has some skill...not to mention some great tools. THANKS FOR POSTING MAN!
Seems to be a lot of gas welding haters commenting. Which is strange since this is a video about gas welding aluminium and you would have searched for that or Meco torches perhaps to find this clip. People that say gas is dead are being silly. Its incredibly versatile. We use it almost everyday for welding lead and for restoration work on ali parts its usually specced in so we are not allowed to use TIG. we also use TIG and MIG and stick daily. Its horses for courses. I think the real decline of gas is its just not taught as its easier to teach using electric sources. I see people are using TIG now to weld lead although I’ve never seen it done.
All of Carroll Shelby's AC Cobra bodies were welded this way, with the slower but better oxy-acetylene mini torches. I'd heard rumors that the welding was done by winos that the foreman at the AC weld shop would go pick up from under the Thames River bridges in the morning, something about them having patience (as no worries about the clock!) and just the perfect amount of 'shake' in their hand movement while dipping the fill wire! No real way to verify that one but it sounds reasonable enough. Have never done aluminum with anything but tig but have an upcoming project which may require this....gonna get the tinmantech dvd and give it a shot! Old school rules! Thanks for the excellent upload and God bless : )'
I see that this is an old video, but had to comment. Many comments laud the usefulness of TIG and say O/A is history, but I disagree. TIG has many advantages in many areas but isn't the be all and end all of welding. I am not a professional welder but I am a stickler for welding well. I use stick, MIG and O/A and I am pretty good on all of them, for what I do, which is small jobs around cars, boats, bikes and the house. I still braze on occasion and sometimes gas weld steel just for the fun and practice. Since a TIG is still somewhat expensive (coming down though) I can see that this would be of some use to me for some aluminium jobs I would like to tackle. I also respect this man for his artistry. To gas weld a joint and then work the metal as he obviously does, takes finesse that some have lost in our high tech world. I recently watched an older body man working on a custom car using only solder (lead). It was like watching Picasso the way he laid and worked the lead and shaped the metal by hand. No bondo and hours of grinding, all metal and solder. He counld have MIGged some metal and bondoed it then ground it to shape, but this man was an artist with metal. Big difference between this and sticking a couple of big plates together.
This type of demonstration is what's keeping me from investing in TIG. I want the capability of working in steel AND aluminum making small parts and repairs and all the videos on TH-cam show how well TIG works...BUT I already have O/A, small torches, and absolutely NO HURRY so I can't justify added expense and steep learning curve... and with the practice I'm doing am coming to love gas welding. Grew up on arc, thought I was modern with MIG...now in love with O/A...Thanks for showing me what can be achieved with "old, no, make that NOW school" technology.
brxtmp106 - I started with stick and TIG - then found the old men telling me to use the torch - had no idea and had to find someone to teach me - then I began learning about the torch and got away from being so dependent on it .... I have a TIG but I mostly use the torch, as I am doing "thin metals."
Purchase Kent's DVD's on Gas Welding Aluminum. You will learn everything you need to know watching them short of taking his class. They are very professionally done and show welding, brazing and soldering plus all the pro's and con's of each process. I watched the DVD's and for the first time I was welding and brazing aluminum for my aircraft fuel tank. His products do what he states they do, very rare in today's market. Do not spend your money on the box store or market rods/fluxes, they simply do not work. Just purchase Kent's and save yourself the aggravation and waster of money, been there, done that. You can rent the DVD's too, very well worth the time to be educated .... then practice, practice and more practice, easy peasy!
The torch is the Meco Midget, and the gas is acetylene ( I also gas weld aluminum with hydrogen and propane). Benefits of the torch welding are described here: www.tinmantech.com/education/articles/tig-vs-torch.php I had a long chat with the president of the Aluminum Association once and after almost two hours of great discussion he said to me, "The issue of weld density with the TIG will be a problem for the foreseeable future." On the other hand, gas welding aluminum has zero density issues. When perfect-looking TIG welds on aluminum tanks leak it is because of "weld density issues." Aluminum foundrymen use a degasser when pouring aluminum in order to get porosity-free castings. Similarly, the gas welding flux degasses the torch welds. - kent
Cool video! I've seen several of your other videos, and as an old A&P mechanic can say that you sir are an artist with aluminum. Thank you for posting these videos--they are most enjoyable. I've done a lot of gas welding 4130 and mild steel over the years, but (ironically) I am getting ready to purchase a TIG set-up in the next couple of months. But I stumbled upon your videos, and just couldn't help but watch them. Very3 enjoyable and educational. So THANKS again for posting them!
Great video.It is very difficult to convince people that gas welding aluminum is possible. All the old (and new)Cobra bodies were gas welded.Ron Fournier also gas welds aluminum. He said it is especially good on tanks. If you gas weld say an oil tank on a race care and it crashes, the tank will "give" Tig would most likely brake apart. Thanks for a great video, and I would encourage anyone to attend your classes.
@tinmantech I know that in the auto restoration business this method is often used because it is softer on the old metal and will tend not to crack the surrounding steel. Thanks for the vid.
@AeroSport103 I do use the TIG and people say my welds are nice, but my son is marvelous on the TIG -- but I started teaching him to weld at the age of nine, so he had an decade or so advantage on me.... thanks for the compliment. - tinman
@hydraman5 Yes, I have covered the TIG vs Torch issue in depth in many articles, booklets, and public workshops over the past 20 years. Let’s not be too hasty to dismiss a viable welding method. Your results may vary, but there are a number of applications - aside from heavy plate - that benefit from the torch. I’ve used both the TIG and the Torch for a number of years, going back to 1970 in fact, and there are times when the TIG is pretty good. - tinman
Wow - so impressive. I'm a real fan of oxy acetylene and now I've got something to show those that think its a dead technique. I'm in the UK and I've only tried the lumiweld process on Al which is much easier as its brazing and you don't have to melt the parent Aluminium. I used it to mend a spoke on an aluminium pulley wheel. Going to watch the rest of your videos and then visit the website.
@tinmantech My father was a welder at Caterpillar for over 20 years. He welded stainless track link dies with a stick welder. Personally, his favorite was the oxy-acetylene torch. He despised MIG and TIG welders for some reason. Maybe because he was an old-time welder that learned in the old days. In any case, I've seen him do some beautiful work with a torch. That having been said, I love MIGs, but am not skilled enough to use a TIG properly.
Bought the flux years ago after attending a 4-day beginners workshop. (recommendation!) but sadly never got to use it. Now after years of Tig welding and seeing this vid, i'm amazed about the penetrating that i see (guess i forgot..) i sure am going to try this out again, hopefully there isn't an expiration date on the flux..
@hydraman5 Also take ductility into consideration. The larger heat-affected zone acetylene creates has a friendly consequence: the larger heated area cools slower and produces a very soft and ductile weld. Kent's demonstration showed how the welded area can be formed with little risk of cracking. That's important in coachbuilding and aircraft work where the welded area may be shaped numerous times. GTAW beads are often harder and more prone to crack when worked even moderately.
Excellent video, I've never gas welded alum, only tig. I do gas weld ferrous material all the time however. I'm going to get up to speed with the gas welds on alum . Thanks for a great piece-TM
@jaymce1 Gas Welding was used for the first 50 years of car construction because it was the only viable method. Even today, TIG welding does not give the penetration necessary for constructing these types of bodies. Additionally, with the inherent weld-density issues, consistent with TIG welding, the weld beads are large and puffy, and not flat and dense as they are with gas welding. This means gas welds are much more efficient for body construction.
Great Job ! I like it, I like it a lot ! Can you please give me the answers to 3 questions please ? 1- What is the material you are applying with a brush just before you started welding ? 2- What is the liquid out of a bottle you used when you sanded the piece? It looked like a bottle of alcohol..... 3- After completing a aluminum weld can you use a rod for stainless steel on top of a aluminum weld that you just welded or are you suppose to ? Thank you.
The aluminum filler wire is spooled wire, 1100 alloy. White paste is aluminum gas welding flux mixed with water. The aluminum sheet is 3003 alloy, .050 thickness. Glad you liked watching. - tinman
Thanks for a thorough video. I am good with my little peanut oxy rig but never attempted aluminum. I have been doing alot of tricky welds in the AC businesess. Now I am needing to so some alum welding and this is what I needed to try it. Thanks
@gurto1 5% magnesium (5356) is also the recommended rod for welding birmbright by the land rover series 3 manual (i'm guessing it's a 100" or bobtail landy you're making) good luck with it :)
Thanks for the video, seriously. My quest to find out if torch welds hold up against sustained pressure landed me here, and you sir, have shown me it's still a viable welding method. #MuchRespect
That is an AMAZING weld. I am starting a restoration project on an aluminium bodied car (Aston Martin DB2/4). I'm new to gas welding and would like it if you could answer a few questions. 1). Would you suggest I buy a ightweight torch for bodywork repair or is a standard medium duty torch better? 2). In the video, the two sheets are obviously new. What should I be aware of when welding new sheet to aged sheets (ie panel repair) to produce a good weld
Good skills mate but you way wrong about the TIG weld. A half decent TIG weld can take all that and more,easily as strong as the metal on either side. I have tested oxy/fuel,TIG and MIG to destruction and there was nothing between them, it's all down to prep and skill more than the type of welding used.
I haven't done exactly what you're asking, but years of experience with alum. repair & talking w/ other boat guys - you might be better off to use flush rivets and rivet a cover panel over the damage. You will need to use a boat-type sealer over the inside of the hull to seal the rivet heads. Since I don't know how severe the dents are, it is difficult to say exactly what you need (I'd think drag would improve). Have you done much aluminum repair/ welding? These repairs can be difficult. -Tinman
I use a lot of different alloys, including 1100. Using thin strips (also called "fusion" welds) was commonly used in the 1930s. It can be done, but it certainly takes more time than using filler rod. You have asked a wide range of questions - I'm not trying to sell you a product, but most of these are answered in an a booklet I wrote called "Authentic Gas Welding" which you can get for about $9 (530-292-3506). If the weld line is finished properly you should not be able to see it. -Tinman
Brilliant demonstration of classical welding skills. These are skills that many welders haven't spent the time to master. Nice to see I don't need a TIG machine to do these. It's time for me to give it a try! Is that special aluminum welding paste hard to find? Could I use normal welding paste that I have for steel gas welding?
im from england and acetylene has to be imported most of the time as it no made or is in very low production. A major reason is that here in the uk , this type of welding is VERY VERY rare , almost no where i know does this these days
veryy awesome video . love it from years . i would love to know about flux . wht kind and do you mix it with normal water ? wht the process. thank youuu so much for the infos
nice I've never had a chance to weld alloy with oxy . tig and mig all the time I really like it slower process but full pentration without HAVING to weld the back ( tig ) hmm maybe if
I'm impressed with this video,and I got a few qustions.is this Al wire for the mig welders,and what is this paste you using for cleaning wire and Al sheet that you working on? p.s. sory for bad spelling,my English is not so good
Very interesting. But I wouldn't say it's necessarily a replacement for a good tig weld. I have welded similar thickness and alloy on a TIG and with proper technique and low amperage, you can get a 100% penetration weld with next to no profile and no strength issues. None the less quite interesting to watch though.
@hotrodsurplus You are exactly right. Additionally, the GTAW has density issues which leave large puffy welds, which must be mowed down and cannot be hammered. - tinman
what size tip do you use for aluminum sheet? beautiful work. watching you do this made me buy a torch set instead of a new tig. well that and i would have to run new wire from the pole to the house, a new fuse panel, a new meter, and about 80 feet of very expensive wire lol.
@challenger7777777 You can stick weld with a GOOD D.C. welder, and if the aluminum is over .125 thickness, otherwise use the gas rig and 5356 filler and the aluminum gas welding flux. The alloy composition is always given by the 4-digit number as in this case you are describing 6061. You do not mention thickness, however I would guess it is between .100 and .187. You will need a tip sized #4 - 6 to do this.
Yes it is very impressive, but I'd be curious to see just how a Tig welded section would have fared given the same abuse. The fact you've started with 3003 grade and 1100 filler the metals are already at their softest state and rapid cooling (cleaning the flux) only reinforces the annealing process. Regards Andrew.
@Tranzas23 It's a Meco Torch. Use it for 95% of my oxy-acetylene welding, brazing and soldering. It's a personal favorite because it is really lightweight, especially when used with our ultra-lightweight hoses. If you want to see more, we have info and FAQs over on our website (search google for tinmantech, when you get to our site click on "products > welding > meco torch"). - tinman
Oxy-propane can do aluminum, with the Meco, and aluminum gas welding flux. I have done this, but the welds have a little more carbon in the surface than one would expect.
Every man stands for its trade. I'm a TIG welder and I have to say: nice job. On the other hand, TIG welding takes skill, oxyacet takes even more skill, for a person with little or no experience this is just impossible to do... Also, you might have a pretty thin weld bead, it's irregular, it looks dirty... TIG can get you a 100% ripple effect from start to finish (on both sides of the weld). Just saying, what you is cool, I respect your skill, I couldn't do it with an oxyacet, but when you compare the two... the TIG weld will be better and cleaner....
Ya did good but it's hard to see anything with the camera man always out of focus! The very end was the only time it was in focus on the metal. Pretty slick all in all tho. Thanks for posting.
hi ,,, stunning video , i thought you couldnt gas weld with propane on anything , let alone aluminium , if it is pos it would be a very cost effective way for me to try alloy welding at home , ill look forward to a reply , many thanks indeed
+tom thompson Hi Tom, Yes, oxy-propane is okay with welding aluminum. I cannot get the beads to look as good as they do with other fuel gases, but they hold up well.
@bjzq8 It's not whether you are an old school craftsman or not, as much as it is the deficiencies you recognize in the newer welding methods. When the newer methods are so highly touted, despite their deficiencies, all we can do is hold them at a safe distance which sometimes requires a little attitude!
i am shortening the body of an 'burmabrite' alloy bodied vehicle could i use offcuts of the body as filler rather that wire would this give an ok finish?
@h23sirlude I've welded aluminum very nicely with a 1934 cutting torch. I would think that one pretty well qualifies as "any torch!" here I'm using the Meco Midget torch. I use this torch because it is very lightweight which makes it easy to maneuver. -tinman
Kent, I see you use alot of 1100 filler. I'm curious how the overall process and/or end result may differ vs. cutting thin strips of the base material and using it as the filler material. Is a different flux needed, is brittleness of concern, and from a polished finish standpoint, does 1100 show a weld line? Thanks for your time!
oxy accetaline wizard at work,as they have said it don`t get much better,iv`e got to get me some light weight gas bagging and a light weight saffire torch
Have you heard about any explosion ,while welding with oxy-acet ? I always hear that is very dangerous ,but I ask myself,is it dangerous because its a risky process or because even though you take all the precautions, I mean flash back arrestors check valves and so on, it can explode? thanks
The welder is given a few choices on a given job, right? I've welded a few cars over the years and was trained on the tig a long time ago. For two years I tried the tig on the car stuff I was doing (professionally) and I went over to O/A because the speed and flatness were better. I do use the tig, but about 90% is O/A. Doesn't mean at all that the next guy will have to do that, but you have a choice. - tinman
Hi, can this be done with the meco and alternative fuel like propane? I'm ver courious about how far you can go with propane fuel and the rosebud tip, thanks for your vídeos.
Gas welding is for all of the old timers that can't let go and hate change if that's all they do. My aluminum tig welds are stronger, faster, and better looking. I do respect a man that has the skill to gas weld aluminum though, I didn't know it could even be done. I've gas welded steel and stainless, even brass braze. No aluminum. Great job
Nathan Cleveland One more item to consider, never be rude by not sharing what you learn, not only from Mr. Carl Johns but from anyone who has shared knowledge with you. You can Pass-It-On by being helpful to others that are learning the ropes and need help once in a while. Consider how far behind you would be if Mr. Carl hadn't taken you under his wing. I remember starting out being assigned to older craftsmen that would rather beat your eyes into one hole than give you a heads up on anything. Fearful of being replaced by a younger man or woman. Yes, I did run into several lady pipe welders that could lay a bead down like dimes. Nathan I know I rattle on too much, but I needed to share that with you. Don't ever be fearful to share your knowledge, it takes years of hard work to be as talented as you. God Bless
@spelunkerd That is aluminum gas welding flux. However, if you are looking for steel gas welding, you would want to use flux for steel. You can read more about steel welding flux on our website (tinmantech - dot - com) However, your best bet is to look on our website for the booklet titled "Stainless Steel Welding" which will give you a lot of info on welding steel, including a lot more info on steel fluxes. thanks for asking. - tinman
@sentencecaptionnorep yeah, mine said that too. with proper instruction anyone can learn to gas weld though. During WW2 the U.S. government taught thousands of young women to gas weld in a six-hour course. gas welds, as you can see here, can really handle what I call "shaping abuse." it definitely possible. -Tinman
Even Boc don't charge £365/ year!! Their largest size is around £100 each per year, £20 oxy fill and £97 for dissoved acetylene fill. Agree that it's a pricing cartel though! :(((
@EmObReNdAnJaCkAsS This could be done with a TIG, however in my experience, too frequently there are problems related to TIG welding doing this type of work including cracking, porosity, thick weld beads, etc. Some of us, having already experienced those results, switched to O/A because doing it with the torch is just easier, faster, cheaper, more consistent and gives better results. I've written a booklet called Authentic Aluminum Gas Welding that answers TIG vs Torch in more detail. -Tinman
Reading all of the previous comments I feel compelled to express that using one process well in no way diminishes the value of other processes nor the skills of others. Different processes excel in various applications. Kent's a master with o/f and aluminum (and other materials) and his willingness to show what can be done and how is appreciated. That shouldn't threaten someone else who is a master of TIG or MIG or Stick. Use what you have, improve where you can, appreciate others' skills.
brxtmp106 - thank you.
One big advantage this process has is the scrubbing action of the flux in the weld pool. Its very effective at removing absorbed nitrogen and contamination, floating it to the surface. The welds end up being having a higher density than a tig weld in the same material, and so tend to have a higher high-cycle fatigue life, higher ductility, and much less prone to pinhole leaks. In the world of aluminum sheet metal welding, O/F still is a very viable process.
That is damn impressive! iv'e been working with metal for 25 years, and this dude has some skill...not to mention some great tools. THANKS FOR POSTING MAN!
davisx2002
- thank you very much. Just trying to keep this stuff alive.
I never knew you could just gas weld aluminum. Learn something new everyday. Thanks
Seems to be a lot of gas welding haters commenting. Which is strange since this is a video about gas welding aluminium and you would have searched for that or Meco torches perhaps to find this clip. People that say gas is dead are being silly. Its incredibly versatile. We use it almost everyday for welding lead and for restoration work on ali parts its usually specced in so we are not allowed to use TIG. we also use TIG and MIG and stick daily. Its horses for courses. I think the real decline of gas is its just not taught as its easier to teach using electric sources. I see people are using TIG now to weld lead although I’ve never seen it done.
I can see that you are a master craftsman tinman, from the old school, they dont make them like you anymore. Thanks for posting
All of Carroll Shelby's AC Cobra bodies were welded this way, with the slower but better oxy-acetylene mini torches. I'd heard rumors that the welding was done by winos that the foreman at the AC weld shop would go pick up from under the Thames River bridges in the morning, something about them having patience (as no worries about the clock!) and just the perfect amount of 'shake' in their hand movement while dipping the fill wire! No real way to verify that one but it sounds reasonable enough. Have never done aluminum with anything but tig but have an upcoming project which may require this....gonna get the tinmantech dvd and give it a shot! Old school rules! Thanks for the excellent upload and God bless : )'
I see that this is an old video, but had to comment. Many comments laud the usefulness of TIG and say O/A is history, but I disagree. TIG has many advantages in many areas but isn't the be all and end all of welding. I am not a professional welder but I am a stickler for welding well. I use stick, MIG and O/A and I am pretty good on all of them, for what I do, which is small jobs around cars, boats, bikes and the house. I still braze on occasion and sometimes gas weld steel just for the fun and practice. Since a TIG is still somewhat expensive (coming down though) I can see that this would be of some use to me for some aluminium jobs I would like to tackle.
I also respect this man for his artistry. To gas weld a joint and then work the metal as he obviously does, takes finesse that some have lost in our high tech world. I recently watched an older body man working on a custom car using only solder (lead). It was like watching Picasso the way he laid and worked the lead and shaped the metal by hand. No bondo and hours of grinding, all metal and solder. He counld have MIGged some metal and bondoed it then ground it to shape, but this man was an artist with metal.
Big difference between this and sticking a couple of big plates together.
This type of demonstration is what's keeping me from investing in TIG. I want the capability of working in steel AND aluminum making small parts and repairs and all the videos on TH-cam show how well TIG works...BUT I already have O/A, small torches, and absolutely NO HURRY so I can't justify added expense and steep learning curve... and with the practice I'm doing am coming to love gas welding. Grew up on arc, thought I was modern with MIG...now in love with O/A...Thanks for showing me what can be achieved with "old, no, make that NOW school" technology.
brxtmp106 - I started with stick and TIG - then found the old men telling me to use the torch - had no idea and had to find someone to teach me - then I began learning about the torch and got away from being so dependent on it .... I have a TIG but I mostly use the torch, as I am doing "thin metals."
Purchase Kent's DVD's on Gas Welding Aluminum. You will learn everything you need to know watching them short of taking his class. They are very professionally done and show welding, brazing and soldering plus all the pro's and con's of each process.
I watched the DVD's and for the first time I was welding and brazing aluminum for my aircraft fuel tank. His products do what he states they do, very rare in today's market. Do not spend your money on the box store or market rods/fluxes, they simply do not work. Just purchase Kent's and save yourself the aggravation and waster of money, been there, done that.
You can rent the DVD's too, very well worth the time to be educated .... then practice, practice and more practice, easy peasy!
The torch is the Meco Midget, and the gas is acetylene ( I also gas weld aluminum with hydrogen and propane). Benefits of the torch welding are described here: www.tinmantech.com/education/articles/tig-vs-torch.php
I had a long chat with the president of the Aluminum Association once and after almost two hours of great discussion he said to me, "The issue of weld density with the TIG will be a problem for the foreseeable future." On the other hand, gas welding aluminum has zero density issues. When perfect-looking TIG welds on aluminum tanks leak it is because of "weld density issues." Aluminum foundrymen use a degasser when pouring aluminum in order to get porosity-free castings. Similarly, the gas welding flux degasses the torch welds. - kent
Yes I have done this and have photos of the welds - but this demo is oxy-acetylene.
Cool video! I've seen several of your other videos, and as an old A&P mechanic can say that you sir are an artist with aluminum. Thank you for posting these videos--they are most enjoyable. I've done a lot of gas welding 4130 and mild steel over the years, but (ironically) I am getting ready to purchase a TIG set-up in the next couple of months. But I stumbled upon your videos, and just couldn't help but watch them. Very3 enjoyable and educational. So THANKS again for posting them!
Great video.It is very difficult to convince people that gas welding aluminum is possible. All the old (and new)Cobra bodies were gas welded.Ron Fournier also gas welds aluminum. He said it is especially good on tanks. If you gas weld say an oil tank on a race care and it crashes, the tank will "give" Tig would most likely brake apart. Thanks for a great video, and I would encourage anyone to attend your classes.
@tinmantech I know that in the auto restoration business this method is often used because it is softer on the old metal and will tend not to crack the surrounding steel.
Thanks for the vid.
@AeroSport103 I do use the TIG and people say my welds are nice, but my son is marvelous on the TIG -- but I started teaching him to weld at the age of nine, so he had an decade or so advantage on me.... thanks for the compliment. - tinman
@hydraman5 Yes, I have covered the TIG vs Torch issue in depth in many articles, booklets, and public workshops over the past 20 years. Let’s not be too hasty to dismiss a viable welding method. Your results may vary, but there are a number of applications - aside from heavy plate - that benefit from the torch. I’ve used both the TIG and the Torch for a number of years, going back to 1970 in fact, and there are times when the TIG is pretty good. - tinman
I doubted you in the beginning of this video but you proved me wrong.Good job!
Wow - so impressive. I'm a real fan of oxy acetylene and now I've got something to show those that think its a dead technique. I'm in the UK and I've only tried the lumiweld process on Al which is much easier as its brazing and you don't have to melt the parent Aluminium. I used it to mend a spoke on an aluminium pulley wheel. Going to watch the rest of your videos and then visit the website.
@tinmantech My father was a welder at Caterpillar for over 20 years. He welded stainless track link dies with a stick welder. Personally, his favorite was the oxy-acetylene torch. He despised MIG and TIG welders for some reason. Maybe because he was an old-time welder that learned in the old days. In any case, I've seen him do some beautiful work with a torch. That having been said, I love MIGs, but am not skilled enough to use a TIG properly.
Bought the flux years ago after attending a 4-day beginners workshop. (recommendation!) but sadly never got to use it. Now after years of Tig welding and seeing this vid, i'm amazed about the penetrating that i see (guess i forgot..) i sure am going to try this out again, hopefully there isn't an expiration date on the flux..
@TheTagzen Thanks Tagzen. It's nice to hear that people like the video. Good luck on your restoration project. -Tinman
@hydraman5 Also take ductility into consideration. The larger heat-affected zone acetylene creates has a friendly consequence: the larger heated area cools slower and produces a very soft and ductile weld. Kent's demonstration showed how the welded area can be formed with little risk of cracking. That's important in coachbuilding and aircraft work where the welded area may be shaped numerous times. GTAW beads are often harder and more prone to crack when worked even moderately.
Excellent video, I've never gas welded alum, only tig. I do gas weld ferrous material all the time however. I'm going to get up to speed with the gas welds on alum . Thanks for a great piece-TM
@jaymce1 Gas Welding was used for the first 50 years of car construction because it was the only viable method. Even today, TIG welding does not give the penetration necessary for constructing these types of bodies. Additionally, with the inherent weld-density issues, consistent with TIG welding, the weld beads are large and puffy, and not flat and dense as they are with gas welding. This means gas welds are much more efficient for body construction.
Relaxing...as it should be. It sucks grinding for hours. Thanks for sharing.
The flux usually lasts for years. Unless it has taken on an odd color or absorbed moisture, it should still work fine. best of luck!
Great Job !
I like it, I like it a lot ! Can you please give me the answers to 3 questions please ?
1- What is the material you are applying with a brush just before you started welding ?
2- What is the liquid out of a bottle you used when you sanded the piece? It looked like a bottle of alcohol.....
3- After completing a aluminum weld can you use a rod for stainless steel on top of a aluminum weld that you just welded or are you suppose to ? Thank you.
Simply awesome. Thank-you for showing this.
The aluminum filler wire is spooled wire, 1100 alloy.
White paste is aluminum gas welding flux mixed with water.
The aluminum sheet is 3003 alloy, .050 thickness.
Glad you liked watching.
- tinman
Thanks for a thorough video. I am good with my little peanut oxy rig but never attempted aluminum. I have been doing alot of tricky welds in the AC businesess. Now I am needing to so some alum welding and this is what I needed to try it.
Thanks
Makes me want to grab some gas equipment and brush up! Oldschool baby!
Oh no I just watched the video again and saw that you fluxed the wire also. Hmm I love to learn. Thanks for sharing
@gurto1 5% magnesium (5356) is also the recommended rod for welding birmbright by the land rover series 3 manual (i'm guessing it's a 100" or bobtail landy you're making) good luck with it :)
Thanks for the video, seriously. My quest to find out if torch welds hold up against sustained pressure landed me here, and you sir, have shown me it's still a viable welding method. #MuchRespect
That is an AMAZING weld. I am starting a restoration project on an aluminium bodied car (Aston Martin DB2/4). I'm new to gas welding and would like it if you could answer a few questions.
1). Would you suggest I buy a ightweight torch for bodywork repair or is a standard medium duty torch better?
2). In the video, the two sheets are obviously new. What should I be aware of when welding new sheet to aged sheets (ie panel repair) to produce a good weld
Good skills mate but you way wrong about the TIG weld. A half decent TIG weld can take all that and more,easily as strong as the metal on either side. I have tested oxy/fuel,TIG and MIG to destruction and there was nothing between them, it's all down to prep and skill more than the type of welding used.
I haven't done exactly what you're asking, but years of experience with alum. repair & talking w/ other boat guys - you might be better off to use flush rivets and rivet a cover panel over the damage. You will need to use a boat-type sealer over the inside of the hull to seal the rivet heads. Since I don't know how severe the dents are, it is difficult to say exactly what you need (I'd think drag would improve). Have you done much aluminum repair/ welding? These repairs can be difficult. -Tinman
I use a lot of different alloys, including 1100. Using thin strips (also called "fusion" welds) was commonly used in the 1930s. It can be done, but it certainly takes more time than using filler rod. You have asked a wide range of questions - I'm not trying to sell you a product, but most of these are answered in an a booklet I wrote called "Authentic Gas Welding" which you can get for about $9 (530-292-3506). If the weld line is finished properly you should not be able to see it. -Tinman
Brilliant demonstration of classical welding skills. These are skills that many welders haven't spent the time to master. Nice to see I don't need a TIG machine to do these. It's time for me to give it a try!
Is that special aluminum welding paste hard to find? Could I use normal welding paste that I have for steel gas welding?
Thanks so much for sharing excellent weld
be nice to compare it to a tig weld thatwas flame annealed.
kent great job as always
im from england and acetylene has to be imported most of the time as it no made or is in very low production. A major reason is that here in the uk , this type of welding is VERY VERY rare , almost no where i know does this these days
veryy awesome video . love it from years .
i would love to know about flux . wht kind and do you mix it with normal water ? wht the process. thank youuu so much for the infos
nice I've never had a chance to weld alloy with oxy . tig and mig all the time I really like it slower process but full pentration without HAVING to weld the back ( tig ) hmm maybe if
Yep, those welds sure do pass my tests!
I'm impressed with this video,and I got a few qustions.is this Al wire for the mig welders,and what is this paste you using for cleaning wire and Al sheet that you working on?
p.s.
sory for bad spelling,my English is not so good
Very interesting. But I wouldn't say it's necessarily a replacement for a good tig weld. I have welded similar thickness and alloy on a TIG and with proper technique and low amperage, you can get a 100% penetration weld with next to no profile and no strength issues. None the less quite interesting to watch though.
@hotrodsurplus You are exactly right. Additionally, the GTAW has density issues which leave large puffy welds, which must be mowed down and cannot be hammered. - tinman
That sir is some strong welding and you are awsome.....SUBSCRIBED
what size tip do you use for aluminum sheet? beautiful work. watching you do this made me buy a torch set instead of a new tig. well that and i would have to run new wire from the pole to the house, a new fuse panel, a new meter, and about 80 feet of very expensive wire lol.
@challenger7777777 You can stick weld with a GOOD D.C. welder, and if the aluminum is over .125 thickness, otherwise use the gas rig and 5356 filler and the aluminum gas welding flux. The alloy composition is always given by the 4-digit number as in this case you are describing 6061. You do not mention thickness, however I would guess it is between .100 and .187. You will need a tip sized #4 - 6 to do this.
Yes it is very impressive, but I'd be curious to see just how a Tig welded section would have fared given the same abuse.
The fact you've started with 3003 grade and 1100 filler the metals are already at their softest state and rapid cooling (cleaning the flux) only reinforces the annealing process.
Regards Andrew.
@Tranzas23 It's a Meco Torch. Use it for 95% of my oxy-acetylene welding, brazing and soldering. It's a personal favorite because it is really lightweight, especially when used with our ultra-lightweight hoses. If you want to see more, we have info and FAQs over on our website (search google for tinmantech, when you get to our site click on "products > welding > meco torch"). - tinman
Oxy-propane can do aluminum, with the Meco, and aluminum gas welding flux. I have done this, but the welds have a little more carbon in the surface than one would expect.
Every man stands for its trade. I'm a TIG welder and I have to say: nice job. On the other hand, TIG welding takes skill, oxyacet takes even more skill, for a person with little or no experience this is just impossible to do... Also, you might have a pretty thin weld bead, it's irregular, it looks dirty... TIG can get you a 100% ripple effect from start to finish (on both sides of the weld). Just saying, what you is cool, I respect your skill, I couldn't do it with an oxyacet, but when you compare the two... the TIG weld will be better and cleaner....
Ya did good but it's hard to see anything with the camera man always out of focus! The very end was the only time it was in focus on the metal. Pretty slick all in all tho. Thanks for posting.
hi ,,, stunning video , i thought you couldnt gas weld with propane on anything , let alone aluminium , if it is pos it would be a very cost effective way for me to try alloy welding at home , ill look forward to a reply , many thanks indeed
+tom thompson
Hi Tom,
Yes, oxy-propane is okay with welding aluminum. I cannot get the beads to look as good as they do with other fuel gases, but they hold up well.
superb video mate cheers
@bjzq8 It's not whether you are an old school craftsman or not, as much as it is the deficiencies you recognize in the newer welding methods. When the newer methods are so highly touted, despite their deficiencies, all we can do is hold them at a safe distance which sometimes requires a little attitude!
@73sebrougham Thanks. Appreciate the comment... -Tinman
i am shortening the body of an 'burmabrite' alloy bodied vehicle could i use offcuts of the body as filler rather that wire would this give an ok finish?
What was used as the filler coming off the spool? Is it aluminum mig wire? Beautiful work by the way.
You sir, are an artist.
@h23sirlude I've welded aluminum very nicely with a 1934 cutting torch. I would think that one pretty well qualifies as "any torch!" here I'm using the Meco Midget torch. I use this torch because it is very lightweight which makes it easy to maneuver. -tinman
I prefer walking the cup, but i have to say, that looks damn good.
What are all the benefits of gas welding aluminum?
first time i saw welding alum like this. thanks for the video, and torch with do ?
you sir are a pro. nice video
Kent,
I see you use alot of 1100 filler. I'm curious how the overall process and/or end result may differ vs. cutting thin strips of the base material and using it as the filler material. Is a different flux needed, is brittleness of concern, and from a polished finish standpoint, does 1100 show a weld line?
Thanks for your time!
@tinmantech Sorry tinman for the spelling it's was late, I can't read my writing. I want to asked any Torch will do the job?
@tinmantech Can you do thin stainless steel with oxy-acetylene like your doing there or just aluminum.
Kudos to you sir, very nice.
+mds19238
Thank you.
oxy accetaline wizard at work,as they have said it don`t get much better,iv`e got to get me some light weight gas bagging and a light weight saffire torch
@h23sirlude The torch will do 5mm aluminum and 6mm steel. I've done .25mm aluminum, also. -tinman
Have you heard about any explosion ,while welding with oxy-acet ? I always hear that is very dangerous ,but I ask myself,is it dangerous because its a risky process or because even though you take all the precautions, I mean flash back arrestors check valves and so on, it can explode? thanks
Nice work Tin Man. Do you find it to be stronger than a T.I.G. root?
I am extremely impressed! Very good information and thank you!
The welder is given a few choices on a given job, right? I've welded a few cars over the years and was trained on the tig a long time ago. For two years I tried the tig on the car stuff I was doing (professionally) and I went over to O/A because the speed and flatness were better. I do use the tig, but about 90% is O/A. Doesn't mean at all that the next guy will have to do that, but you have a choice. - tinman
Hi, can this be done with the meco and alternative fuel like propane? I'm ver courious about how far you can go with propane fuel and the rosebud tip, thanks for your vídeos.
@dvd0505 Yes, you can. Give it a try. I don't know what torch you have. - tinman
Gas welding is for all of the old timers that can't let go and hate change if that's all they do. My aluminum tig welds are stronger, faster, and better looking. I do respect a man that has the skill to gas weld aluminum though, I didn't know it could even be done. I've gas welded steel and stainless, even brass braze. No aluminum. Great job
Nathan Cleveland One more item to consider, never be rude by not sharing what you learn, not only from Mr. Carl Johns but from anyone who has shared knowledge with you. You can Pass-It-On by being helpful to others that are learning the ropes and need help once in a while. Consider how far behind you would be if Mr. Carl hadn't taken you under his wing. I remember starting out being assigned to older craftsmen that would rather beat your eyes into one hole than give you a heads up on anything. Fearful of being replaced by a younger man or woman. Yes, I did run into several lady pipe welders that could lay a bead down like dimes. Nathan I know I rattle on too much, but I needed to share that with you. Don't ever be fearful to share your knowledge, it takes years of hard work to be as talented as you. God Bless
I hear that man!
@MrRatchopp you are very kind. thank you. - tinman
you are an artist sir...
Sweet, sorry if you already covered this ,
what did you use for flux ?
ever think of possibly going to france or germany to get gas bottles filled? might be worth it if they will fill privately owned cylinders.
@spelunkerd That is aluminum gas welding flux. However, if you are looking for steel gas welding, you would want to use flux for steel. You can read more about steel welding flux on our website (tinmantech - dot - com) However, your best bet is to look on our website for the booklet titled "Stainless Steel Welding" which will give you a lot of info on welding steel, including a lot more info on steel fluxes. thanks for asking. - tinman
Nice work! can you do that with just a propane torch? or do you need oxy ace?
What metal is this? I had no idea one could oxyfuel weld aluminum.
TM Gas Welding Flux. You can find it on our website. Search "tinmantech gas welding flux" and you should be able to find it.
very impressive, i'll try it.
Can i use 000 to do it?
Freaking insane - what kind of torch & gas are you using
...I've got to get one of those Meco Midgets!
what is the name of that liquid or powder you use with brush?
@sentencecaptionnorep yeah, mine said that too. with proper instruction anyone can learn to gas weld though. During WW2 the U.S. government taught thousands of young women to gas weld in a six-hour course. gas welds, as you can see here, can really handle what I call "shaping abuse." it definitely possible. -Tinman
u should do the same with tig to demonstrate how the aluminum will fracture. i think a good tig weld will hold. but prove me wrong.
Even Boc don't charge £365/ year!! Their largest size is around £100 each per year, £20 oxy fill and £97 for dissoved acetylene fill. Agree that it's a pricing cartel though! :(((
@EmObReNdAnJaCkAsS This could be done with a TIG, however in my experience, too frequently there are problems related to TIG welding doing this type of work including cracking, porosity, thick weld beads, etc. Some of us, having already experienced those results, switched to O/A because doing it with the torch is just easier, faster, cheaper, more consistent and gives better results. I've written a booklet called Authentic Aluminum Gas Welding that answers TIG vs Torch in more detail. -Tinman
well done congrats for show your skills
What product he applys on the wire?
Is the filler material from the spool aluminum mig wire?