How to Clean Up Your Dirty Aluminum Welds!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 มิ.ย. 2024
- #welddotcom
Clean up your dirty Aluminum welds! One of the recurring questions we get when it comes to Aluminum TIG welding is, "why do I get floaters in my welds" or "What is that black pepper looking stuff in my weld pool?"
Well, we ran a whole lot of aluminum beads doing a whole lot of different things to see the results we could get. So if you get "floaters" in your aluminum welds, we are going to show you how to get rid of them FOREVER!
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I'm a machinist with a strong welding background. My old welding mentor emphasized stainless steel brushes (hand or rotary) to be dedicated to final clean-up for welding aluminum should start new and never be used for any other purpose like stripping paint, parts cleaning, etc. Further, your aluminum brushes should always be kept in your posession, protected from contamination, and demote them to lesser duty when their cleaming capacity fades. "Treat them like your toothbrush!" he said.
I did these cleaning procedures the other day, my boss asked me to weld my first aluminum piece for him, and he was really surprised why my work looked so clean and didn’t have the contaminants in it. Hopefully I’ll be doing much more aluminim work here soon because of it.
Yeh just dont let him know about the additional time spent prepping.
@@Neishy4AGTE good advice 👍🤣
I'm welding ally brackets for lotus cars. They can't find anyone else who can do it at the moment and the numbers they want mean I don't have time to prep (clean) properly.
Great Video! I weld in Aerospace. I go as far as to clean the backsides of the parent metals if I can. Also, I use scotch Brite and a following up with acetone wipe on my Filler Rods. Also, take a look at your welding gloves... they are the LAST thing to "touch" the filler rod before it goes into the molten puddle...if they are dirty, so will your weld!
I never thought about that, mine are kinda clean and I don't use old ones, but I have always used fresh SS brushes
I need to thank you since your stick welding lesson in Texas.
I asked why my forearm started getting little electric shocks while using the tig torch. You said to check for a split in the insulation near the torch and don't hang it at a steep angle when resting it. Following up conversation with , "I'm shure of it" when I got home out came the razor blade and peeling back the protective cover a split appeared with a shiny copper cable. I know it just seems common sense but no one else would take my question seriously. You probably saved me from a major jolt and I'm grateful. Again a Big Thanks!!!
Glad we were able to help you out. Stay safe.
On the last pass the contamination you're showing does not come from the filler rod, but from the root of your weld. Whereas all of the surrounding area is clean, there is still plenty of contaminants in the root where the two parts meet. The alox and other contaminants are being pulled up from the root by the cleaning action of the ac arc and deposited on your clean filler rod. (Filler rod not being older than 6 months, handled properly.)
This occurs when you first tack and then clean your parts, whereas you should first clean, brush, clean again and then tack. I've been welding aluminium for the bigger part of the last 10 years and have made the same mistake many a times before realising where the contamination originated from.
You're never to old to learn, and I've learned a lot from your video's over time, thanks!
Shjefke.23 I do the same thing when doing certain soldering tasks in EE, clean, wire, clean. If you don’t clean after you wire you get that gunk particles back on the weld and especially so if the metal is porous as wiring it now exposed all that gunk down in the pores. Also make sure to always clean before wiring too as this removes the bulk so it doesn’t get pushed into the pores. All metal especially aluminum has pores. Whether this is pitting, corrosion, pores, defects, or even the grain boundaries of the metal, any which way it will have it and it will cause problems. Your suggestion is the only way to do it!
The bottom of the material was cleaned 100% for each weld.
Weld.com no you didn't. He is saying the material in the root never got cleaned which is a big no no. You have to clean the material before tacking it together. You dont think that aluminum oxide and oil directly under your weld in the root is not effecting your weld? You clearly tacked together your pieces then proceeded to clean material. All that oxide you tried to clean off also gets wedged into the joint.
Daniel Thornton Exactly.
@@mountain_ginger Exactly the point I wanted to make!
@weld.com You're never too good or too old to learn from your mistakes. I found your comment condescending so I didn't reply initially, felt no need to waste energy on useless pursuits.
Great video! I majored in Welding Technology at a junior college way back in 1972 - we learned to weld aluminum with oxy-acetylene, arc, TIG, and MIG, and in every one, the most important factor was cleaning off the Aluminum Oxide with a dedicated Stainless Steel brush - it takes some time, but the results are worth every second of preparation. I've also found that if you pre-heat the pieces a little with a propane torch or something, the Oxide is much easier to remove - you can actually feel the brush dig in instead of sliding across the Oxide.
After about a month I have successfully taught myself how to weld thin wall aluminum. Specifically intercooler piping. Your videos have helped immensely. WHEN YOU THINK THE ALUMINUM IS CLEAN ENOUGH, CLEAN IT AGAIN!! Also clean your filler. Thin aluminum is very sensitive to contamination. I learned using an AHP-201XD. Good luck to everyone learning.
I’ve been going back and forth this whole time getting so frustrated with aluminum! I will try just pulling tomorrow and report back! Thank you so much!!!
really appreciate the clarity of your images whilst welding, so helpfull to see what you're shooting for. Great job mr camera man
All your advice here is spot on but onenote for your followers that I think you could have mentioned is while you have the crud in between that lapped surface cleaning that surface is critical as well. of course in a repair scenario pulling the two surfaces isn't always possible.
What I do is to use acetone first. Then I brush it, and I use acetone again to remove those microscopic particles produced from the brushing. That does make a big difference difference. And some manufacturers produce really dirty rods, from the drawing oil, or something, I guess. But others are much cleaner.
Thanks for the reminder, cant be to clean. I really like this vid. Fast-talking, no bullshit! Great testing info!
This was incredibly educational! I love the very professional way you are explaining and doing and filming everything. Thanks Master.
Nice video. Aluminum oxide layer regenerates in a split seconds so removing it is only cleaning. Still need the AC electrode Positive to break through it. If it were removed there would be no need to AC weld it, and straight DC would work since there is nothing to remove to get to the aluminium.
Jody from welding tips and tricks had a cool video back a couple weeks ago I think where he is welding some al pipe and shows a shot of the inside where welds over a scratch in the pipe and it was so cool seeing the oxide rise and fall without disturbing the scratch. Made me think of that when you talked about blowing a hole through your material.
Another great video dude! I don’t do too much aluminum but the stuff I have done has been full of the oxide contamination you pointed out in this video.
Thank you for the great work!!
A big thank you to all the welders posting in the comments section of these forums. I know you like to share your experience and I'm sure others profit from it.
Thanks, That was one of the most informative clips iv'e seen for this common problem, and the results for NOT doing it properly in the first place. Great information for everyone.
Thanks i learned something i went in both directions now i won't do that again no one wants to teach me were i work your input is well appreciated for sure will help me get my welds where i want them. I'm gonna go back to welding school another year cause, my job refuses to teach me willingly hiw to fabricate but, this tips you just can't learn in school thanks for the willingness to help others i owe you a det of graduate of that one.
Thank you for this video. Best explanation on how to clean Aluminum I have seen.
Great video , thanks for taking the time do that.
I'm not a welder, but I am a diesel mechanic that does a considerable amount of welding. All our feed trailers (we're agriculture) and livestock trailers are aluminum which is always my biggest battle to repair due to the acidity of the animal feces penetrating deep in the metal on the live haul trailers, and the abuse and lack of cleanliness of the feed trailers. You can't do enough of these aluminum welding videos. I'm fully self taught minus what tidbits the old timers have given me here and there so these videos you do have been a God send. Thank you and keep up the good work!
Jedediah Hoffman
Only way with contamination, is carbide burr and weld again.
Had oil soaked castings i have had to weld multiple times.
@@Sicktrickintuner thank you for the input. Unfortunately that's about what I do now, clean the pants off of it, weld, grind, repeat. While this video will make me change a few habits (using wire wheel on a regular grinder doing full speed) I am very anal on my welds and I'd like to cut down time for repairs and still come out with great looking welds. Any thoughts on using aluma bright wheel cleaner (an acid based cleaner for aluminum rims) before doing a weld? Our shop doesn't allow chemicals not on our company MSDS sheet, but I'm sure if something like this would work a small container would go unnoticed for the most part. Thanks again man!
Great tips! thanks, Some people also recommend cleaning your rods as well. I noticed they are oxidized and add a bit of contaminant in as you go. maybe its too little to worry about but it might even give a cleaner weld...cheers
Wow huge difference when I did the cleaning. Many thanks for the tip!
More of these kind of formats are great. Other ones like what does it look like when you have an air leak in your argon line. Rules of thumb for Tungsten types, and size of tungsten, cup sizes.
Excellent video ! Concise and right to the point , explains exactly what i was missing . Can't thank you enough ! Pepper is for eggs not aluminum welds! Thanks again .
Really nicely presented, Thanks for sharing.
I have a variable polisher with a stainless wheel on it. Works well .
great video Jason learned a lot, good arc shots of the weld as well thanks for taking the time to explain
Wipe down the rods is huge definitely see the crud burning off on the rod in the last weld. Great video!
Great close up arc shots!
Excellent video with good straightforward advice.
thats some awesome arc shots :)
however i wish you had done some with a flapper wheel as thats a very common one as well.
Brilliant!, not the metal, YOU! best advice I've got yet. Thank you from New Zealand.
Thank you for the help!
Awesome video Red beard, surely we all understand we're talking about surface prep and I know you had it in the T joint configuration it very important to clean the surface prior to fill up .… as this is the only way to ensure the zone of penetration is free of contaminants as well .. cleaning Our filler metal Will never be a waste of time the opposite is true! even for the smallest weld repair a clean filler metal makes it all flow.. I personally like to scotch bright all my tig rods ... But I also cut my rods in half too .... awesome content love the channel
Peace
Damn, this is bar far the best video for starters like me. Blowing through and the contaminates sitting on top was super frustrating. This helped a ton!!!
The very best video on this subject! Thank you.
Excellent and informative, thanks for sharing.
A Scotch Bright pad on the filler rod followed be Acetone works very well.....you can also see the puddle doesn't wet out correctly with poor cleaning....I love welding Aluminum when everything is squeaky clean!
Great welding info...thanks!
Possibly acetone before as well, keep the oils out of the ScotchBrite?
Great video! I was just struggling with aluminum the other day bc I cleaned It with a wire wheel
Thank you for your information and all your knowledge
Great video! I did a lot of aluminum back in the day and learned something new - thanks.Jody at welding tips and tricks did a video on doing aluminum (very think) on DC with a Helium mix. I would love to see more on this technique if you ever got the time. Cleanliness was everything since you are not using AC. Looked like a great way to do heavy material where AC just can't punch through or you don't have a heavy duty machine. Thanks again!
I use the die grinder to clean the surface of the weld joint to. Do a lot of repair work on old aluminum boats. Sometimes lite scuff with my saw blade to get nice shiny material under surface.
Thank you. I love welding with Tig. And I love welding aluminum. I usually use the stainless steel brush. I never knew the variable speed Granger's existed don't go out and buy one.
Super helpful and well explained. Thanks
Darn it!! Just when I'm trying to wean myself off welding videos, now I find this website! The best, most succinct and informative explanations and by far the best video footage of the lot.
Therapy, I need therapy!
The hard wheels designed for aluminum and then file it work wonders getting abrasive and such out of an area after grinding, chisels even work for scraping (more of a pull using the corner)
That was some great info! Thanks!
Anyways, the whole time of the video I was wondering how you got such a clean shot?
Which camera setup are you using and what lens filter?
Would be really grateful to hear about that as I found filming and actually seeing my welding very useful to analyse my work and therefore being able to progress my welding skills to the next level.
Thanks in advance!
Cheers
Lots of great new things I have not heard or shown and have watch many tig aluminum videos
Love my new ISOTunes!!!!! Rock on!!!
I haven’t welded aluminum yet but good to know . Good video , thank you !
i see when your filler is out of argon shield your contaming the pool great video shots Thank you this is help me understand what I'm doing wrong
Nice footage!
Agreed BOb. Are you "weld . com Bob"? Hope you are well whoever you are.
Great video even for a hobbyist welder like me. Good information thank you for the education.
Yes pretty good demo and info thank you so much .
Thank you for not starting your videos with 10 minutes of bullshit about yourself etc. right to the point. Great video
Thank you. Very informative.
Thanks mate for the very helpful info 👍
I learned so much in one short fantastic video thank you!
Wish this came out yesterday!
Was just about to comment on the filler metal.Thought i was going to be able to get you on that.
Ss Pp literally right after I finished reading your comment he mentioned it 😂
Excellent arc shots and very nice explanation. I'm definitely going to use this method next time. I guess I've been my own worst enemy while I'm cleaning the part!
awesome stuff man
Thanks for the info, its going to save me alot.
Great lesson thank you 🙏🏽
Very helpful - thanks very much!
Great video man
Nice presentation on cleaning aluminum before welding. Cleanliness is next to Godliness. Cleaning the filler rod is the same for sweating copper pipe. Not only do you have to clean the copper pipe and fittings, you need to make sure you have your filler soldiers surface clan too. Something a lot of newbee and old lazy plumbers just refuse to admit to doing. Keep the videos coming too
Thank you great vid for us new welders
great information, but u noticed your filler rod was introducing contaminates into your pool . but what about cleaning with the wire wheel like you did then giving one last wipe down wiht acetone before welding ?
Learned alot thanks.
I'm just getting started with welding aluminum with my everlast tig welder and have always wondered about this.
Do you have the mig, Tig, and stick? If so then did you get the lead for the Tig torch?
Good video mate 👍👍
Great. I can't tell you how much your videos help me with my hobby welds. How do you fell about also using Alumiprep etching acid in addition to your methods. I have alot of cast aluminum with oil contamination.
Wow, Thanks, I am welding on old pontoon boat and they usually sit in saltwater for 200+ days a year. It is hell getting it clean. The bad part is that after cleaning the metal, there is not much of the metal left. Up till now, I have been pressure washing & scrapping incrustations off. Then propane torch to cook out the salts, alkali wash, force air dry, and wire brush. I never thought about the way I brushed it off. I will definitely try your way and see how it turns out. Thanks a bunch.
If you can do a video on how to remove salt out of porous old aluminum, that would be great, because I am in hell right now. I am getting pontoons with dozens of 1-inch holes at the waterline and the pontoons are beaten to hell. Thanks again
P.S. the pontoon boats are used to build docks and that is where all the holes/dents come from.
great vid, thanks
Tight work man. Detailed information, Nice video. Mike west borrowed phone.
Appreciate the videos. Old guys like education too.
EXCELENTE VIDEO¡¡... Y MUY ILUSTRATIVO¡¡...SALUDOS DESDE MEXICO¡¡
What I love the most to clean aluminum and save time is to use a paint-stripping wheel (norton rapid strip) and scotch brite on the filler just before I use an acetone wipe. Obviously- that’s when it’s not grease and/or oil soaked of course.....
Отличное видео, спасибо за труд, с удовольствием смотрю и учусь. Лайк.
Very good education 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
I always like watching your videos I truly believe you’re one of the better guys out there doing the tutorials I’m in there’s a lot of the good guys out there I mean you know can we say the fabricator Siri‘s anyway there’s lotta good guys out there I really enjoy them anyways thank you for what you do but I noticed you didn’t use acetone or or anything when you took that slower grinder variable speed grinder with the wire wheel on it and it still turned out good anyhow this is a Jim mungai From Kennerdell PA I have a dynasty 210 DX welder you have a good day thank you again
Excellent advice. I would add one thing. When using the angle grinder with the wire wheel, a light touch is needed as aluminum is softer than mild steel.
Since I posted this, I have shifted to using a 3" diameter abrasive pad on a battery powered angle drill. The grit on the pad is listed as "fine", so I think that the grit is in the 200 to 300 range. It works quite well. I still use the SS brush when cleaning up around tack welds. I also wipe with acetone after brushing/cleaning.
Also, with the wire wheels there are wheels available with finer gauge wire that are not as aggressive. I have used these and they work quite well.
Absolutely agree with you 100% . I weld Aluminum everyday and prep is everything. The only issue is that getting most employers to understand that concept. The only thing it seems they are concerned about is how fast it can be done but what they don't seem to realize is that you're sacrificing the quality and strength of it by cutting corners . I argue this issue all the time. How can you make someone understand that concept?
Sorry to tell you, but nothing aluminum should be used for structural therefore strength isn’t a concern for them. And in my eyes also your just wasting time and money😂
@@chrisbostrom343 You know I thought about not responding to the comment but since you seem to need an education I feel like I have to help you understand so someone else who might be watching this doesn't actually believe your ignorance. Aluminum is one of the biggest alloys used in the Aerospace and Automotive industry's ! How much more structural can you get! I hope someone like your self isn't working on the plane or auto that I put my family in. Might give it some thought before you post something that you obviously know nothing about. 😁
Chris Arflin dude😂did i say airplanes don’t use aluminum? No. They use certain types of steel for the structural components of an airplane if you didn’t know, aluminum is not used for the rims is it? Not for the landing gear, not for any structural components. So again, please tell me why u need to clean aluminum oxide off if it comes back instantly😂
Chris Arflin also there’s a reason they don’t build bridges with aluminum, aluminum has a young modulus of around 10mpsi, while steel is around 29mpsi. So ur the one who needs the education, 😂cleaning filler rods is like someone never busting a weld test in the oil field, never happens
@@chrisbostrom343 I really dont have time to argue but you obviously need help understanding that your wrong Aluminum is used in turbines Aerospace frames and Bridges and car frames. Because of its heat and strength properties not to mention it weight to strength ratio. Also used armor plate which I installed in several military vehicles that save countless lives from IEDs! ( Improvised Explosive Devices) for those that don't know. Take your ball back home and cry to mama snowflake...
Excellent video. Kinda looks like that Lightning 275 is pretty well balanced and does well in stick, mig and tig for the money?
thank you very much !! a great video !!
Incredible cinematography! I wish my welding looked like that in real life through my welding helmet lens!!
Try fixing a caplight or clip-on headlamp to your helmet and use a cheater lens or magnifier inside. These will make a huge difference in seeing your welds!
that was good information
Oxide layer was wider on the last weld. Did you turn up the balance on that one?
Good job 👍
Oxides /simple answer!
I like to push the tip of brush awards the direction of weld travel plus some clean air,take a break and oxides are back ,that dirty Air we are breathing
Does the acetone apply for carbon tig processes as well?
Thanks for the video! Question for you guys:
Does the Stainless wheel/brush cause any long term corrosion issues when using it to prep aluminium?
I work on aircraft and we are strictly prohibited from using stainless products like wire wheels or brushes on aluminium to prevent dissimilar metal corrosion from occuring from small bits of stainless getting embedded in the aluminium.
I’ve welded a ton of x-rayed aluminum. Never once seen a spec of stainless anywhere .. the digital X-rays would be easy to see if it’s in there
Great, thanks!
Thank you so much
you could do this along with scotchbright and acetone on your filler for extra clean welds
Good morning, always good information. What brand of stainless wire wheel brush and is that a beveled brush? Also what size? Thanks and take care.
What defects would appear in the end product if you’ve been cleaning it wrong? Is it a weaker weld or more susceptible to corrosion?