stick weldinr aluminum

- R
- Robert Bodell
  
  Contact options for registered users
posted
19 years ago

Wed, Aug 4, 2004 6:06 PM

I built a homemade AC/DC welder. I used some big 400 amp 250 volt diodes for the full wave bridge to get the DC.

formatting link

It welds with a 1/16 to 5/32 rod fine and does stainless great too

I heard that there was plans someplace that you could use an arc to get the HF necessary to weld aluminum with.

I am not sure of this is before the transformer, after the transformer and before the diodes or after the diodes and in the welding leads.

Is there somebody here that could explain how that is built or guide me to the plans?

thanks a bunch in advance.

Please reply to the group and send a copy to rbodell AT tampabay DOT rr DOT com so I am sure to get it. I don't want to miss this. Bob

- A
- Andreas Rutz
  
  Contact options for registered users
Vote on answer
posted
19 years ago

Wed, Aug 4, 2004 9:53 PM

Do you mean RF with HF?

You need AC power to weld aluminum, no RF. One half wave removes the oxide, the other heats the material efficiently. Don't use the rectifier and try to weld, maybe it works just fine...

Good luck!

- M
- Michael Dahms
  
  Contact options for registered users
Vote on answer
posted
19 years ago

Thu, Aug 5, 2004 5:43 AM

ACK

And JFTR: Welding specialists can most likely be found at sci.engr.joining.welding

HTH

Michael Dahms

- R
- Robert Bodell
  
  Contact options for registered users
Vote on answer
posted
19 years ago

Sat, Aug 7, 2004 5:12 PM

Hay, thank you. I was under the impression you needed DC but a slight High Frequency ac (slight bulge from 0 to + on an oscilloscope) instead if pure DC (straight line on an oscilloscope).

I will give that a try and see what happens. Thanks again.

This thing does an awesome job on stainless and I thought it would be nice if I could weld aluminum too although I seldom ever have a call for it.

To tell you the truth, being able to weld aluminum might end up being a problem. I am already getting too much work welding steel as it is and I didn't even advertise. I took some samples of my welding to a friend who does it for a living and he is even sending people to me. I guess I didn't forget it all after 30 years LOL. Aluminum is all new to me from the start. I'd like to know how though and I don't really want to go out and buy a machine just to play with.