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Welding question!!

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    #16
    Nice Job !

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      #17
      Clean clean clean. Three most important things for welding aluminum.

      Check out the videos on millerwelds.com and Tweco.com for some great pointers.

      And yes you push it.

      When you're welding the rule of thumb is 'if there's slag, you drag'

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        #18
        I have always used a TIG welder for welding on aluminum boats. I'm sure MIG will work fine but may a bit more difficult to get setup just right for thin aluminum. Also try and find out what alloy aluminum the boat is and match rods.


        Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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          #19
          I'm pretty excited! I've always wanted a mug setup because I've always wanted to build my own boat. So one day I think this setup might get me there. But my current boat is a good boat for baby steps!

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            #20
            So I did a few practice welds and got ok at zoning in my machine. I had a hair line crack on the back part of the boat that wasn't structural so I used that as my practice. Clean, did a short bead, dialed it in and welded it up almost seamless. Then I went to weld on the bottom of the boat and I can't get my machine to zone in...my wire keeps balling up at the end and not even melting on the the boat. Looks more like it's just falling off straight to the ground. Seems like I tried everything less gas, less wire, less heat, more gas, more heat and more wire. I even tried preheating the aluminum on the boat. My biggest problem is there is no way to gauge the thickness or type of aluminum.

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              #21
              Your ground isn't good enough. A rod will burn through to a ground but mig just can't do it. Check that ground.

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                #22
                Check your ground.

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                  #23
                  Like Draco said you've got a bad ground. A lot of people don't realize how important having a good ground is. A bad ground can cause arcing through bearings also which can be a very bad thing.

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                    #24
                    That would make perfect since. The clamp is crappy and small, so I had to ground on one of the boat lids. I'll try again this afternoon with a new clamp!

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                      #25
                      Originally posted by Draco View Post
                      You did a splendid job on that deck Bisch. It looks exactly like the one I built for you.
                      Yep, you built the initial deck, then I bought my own machine and did a heck of a lot of welding on this boat myself. I was just trying to answer the OP, not discredit you!!!!!

                      Bisch

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                        #26
                        I would say it more like we built the deck, and you did all the welding. I was there, and I did a lot of work on it too, just no welding at that point, since I did not know how, and did not have my own machine! I do not appreciate being made out to look like a liar for everyone else to read about!!!!! After the initial deck was welded by Draco, I bought my own machine with a spool gun and did a lot of welding on this boat myself, and am very glad I made the decision to buy my own machine because now I can make a modification or fix something myself, without having to work around someone else's schedule to try to get it done. Draco, I'm sorry if I did not give you the credit that you did deserve, but like said above, I was just trying to answer the OP's question as to whether he should get the stuff to weld aluminum himself.

                        Bisch
                        Last edited by Bisch; 08-07-2016, 09:49 AM.

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                          #27
                          Anybody know the going rate for somebody doing about a foots worth of a bead via tig would go for? I can't get enough heat out of my rig to really get a good bead.

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                            #28
                            Originally posted by Eagle19 View Post
                            Anybody know the going rate for somebody doing about a foots worth of a bead via tig would go for? I can't get enough heat out of my rig to really get a good bead.

                            What kind of joint? How many beads required? Material?

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                              #29
                              $55-85hr pending welder. Even though it may be just a foot, usually have a minimum. Some will give quotes per job regardless of how big or small. Some may not touch it. Again, pending welder.

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                                #30
                                Originally posted by bboswell View Post
                                What kind of joint? How many beads required? Material?
                                A hairline crack about a foot long, with pretty much just one bead. It's on aluminum, no clue on thickness. Kicker is you would have to do it upside down.

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