Hi There,
Here is a question that no one in the industry answered me if I can do
it yet. I am building on the side an aluminum bicycle frame. I would
like to heat treat it after welded. All that I have however available
in my company is an oven that can heat up to 450F. So all we can is
pretty much age it after welding. I know that as per the literature
available, after welding you have to heat treat in solution and quench
it and than age the piece. Here is the question though, that I will
highly appreciate if anyone can answer it: Is it possible to just age
the frame after welded let's say 6 hours at 350 degrees. Or is that
going to be worse, since I am re-aging a T6 tube and will be in fact
over-aging it and make it very brittle. Second question: If that is the
case what would happen if I can get 6061-T4 tubing, weld it and than
age it, again without heat treating or quenching it. Would that make
the tube actual T6 after welded. What would happen with the actual
weldment and annealed area? I am trying to find the easiest way to
recover some strength at the joints, without making it worse than not
doing anything at all.
Thanks in advance!
Dumont
- posted 16 years ago