[Towertalk] welding aluminum

tttt ccccc k3hx@juno.com
Fri, 11 Oct 2002 12:12:11 -0400


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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