-----Original Message-----
From: Bruce Miller [mailto:bruce@epocs.com]
Sent: Friday, October 11, 2002 11:41 AM
To: 'tttt ccccc'
Subject: RE: [Towertalk] welding aluminum
Welding aluminum antenna tubing would almost always be done with a TIG
welder. Cleanliness is very important. We use a caustic etch process,
performed by our local plating shop prior to welding aluminum. We have
2 welders on each shift performing precision TIG welds on a variety of
aluminum alloys in our manufacturing facility. Good TIG welders are
very difficult to find and expensive to keep. The cleaned aluminum must
be welded rather quickly as the oxidation process begins right away. Why
not rivet instead of welding? Don't assume that welding is strong and
riveting is less than strong. All aircraft flying today, and the space
shuttle, employ the use of rivets, for good reasons. I'd be willing to
bet that the typical shade tree antenna/tower mechanic could become a
good riveter much faster (and with better results) than he/she could
become a good aluminum welder. Bruce AA5BH
-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-admin@contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-admin@contesting.com] On Behalf Of tttt ccccc
Sent: Friday, October 11, 2002 10:12 AM
To: petvet@adelphia.net
Cc: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [Towertalk] welding aluminum
OM,
Welding aluminum is tricky.
The joint has to be absolutely clean, typically a designated stainless
steel brush
(used only on aluminum) is used to clean the area just before welding.
Although you can use special "sticks" (last price was $14 a pound,) I
suspect
most folks will use MIG machines. Got to be very careful not to
penetrate too
far, not too little and not burn through. No second chances......HI!
The welded joint may become a stress point and fail under repeated
flexing.
Peace Be With Thee,
Tim K3HX
On Fri, 11 Oct 2002 09:04:15 -0400 "S Johns" <petvet@adelphia.net>
writes:
> After having a major project at work that involved a large amount of
> aluminum welding by our fabricator, I started to wonder why I had
> never heard of hams using aluminum welding to _more securely_
> fabricate large
> booms and elements (eg. 80m and 40 m full size elements for yagis
> and
> verticals).
>
> Other than the obvious problem when deconstruction is desired, are
> there any other downsides to welding telescoping aluminum elements?
>
> 73, Scott W3TX
>
>
>
>
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