Aluminum pre-heat for welding
Aluminum pre-heat for welding
OK, I know preheat is needed, how much? is there a temperature to pre-heat to, I can use an inferred temperature readout just need to know where to go.
Gen 2 AF, yes it's a SH, so I can call it an AF Damm it!
Actually, it's not. Welding on these Aluminum frames is considered prettyOK, I know preheat is needed,
light duty and any decent TIG or MIG rig will get the job done without going
anywhere near it's duty cycle. If you are concerned about the tubing moving
around going from cold to hot and back, just keep everything clamped up
until it cools back to ambient.
If you still want to pre-heat, use a torch and your IR thermometer to get
the metal up around 400 degrees. Aluminum dissipates heat rapidly so I
recommend you only heat a small section, weld and then heat and weld
the next section as you go.
I welded this frame cold with a Lincoln Square Wave TIG 185. I even used
a pulser to keep the heat down. I didn't use a jig, I just kept the rails
clamped up until they cooled - no movement at all.
dogger
I am preheating my welds on the downtube to the billet y i use, the material is thicker with both pieces. aluminum can look like it is welded and not have proper penetration, if in doubt pre-heat.
a trick i learned is to turn just your acetylene on, blacken the aluminum with it. now fire up your mix, heat the aluminum until you burn the black off. the aluminum should now be up to temp to weld. thicker material may need more, this is a good guage when you dont have temp gauge.
a trick i learned is to turn just your acetylene on, blacken the aluminum with it. now fire up your mix, heat the aluminum until you burn the black off. the aluminum should now be up to temp to weld. thicker material may need more, this is a good guage when you dont have temp gauge.
What year is that frame? Did you reuse the stock Y?dogger315 wrote:Actually, it's not. Welding on these Aluminum frames is considered prettyOK, I know preheat is needed,
light duty and any decent TIG or MIG rig will get the job done without going
anywhere near it's duty cycle. If you are concerned about the tubing moving
around going from cold to hot and back, just keep everything clamped up
until it cools back to ambient.
If you still want to pre-heat, use a torch and your IR thermometer to get
the metal up around 400 degrees. Aluminum dissipates heat rapidly so I
recommend you only heat a small section, weld and then heat and weld
the next section as you go.
I welded this frame cold with a Lincoln Square Wave TIG 185. I even used
a pulser to keep the heat down. I didn't use a jig, I just kept the rails
clamped up until they cooled - no movement at all.
dogger