Helium Loss

Hey Richard,

I used spool gun/mig for the 3/8 (9.5 mm nominal) I successfully welded in the past. Like I said. Lots of preheat. Would have been better if I could have had somebody hold a rosebud on it while I was welding.

12KW input would be just above the limit of my 50 amp (235V measured under load) supply circuit. I could probably do it (power not the weld) for short duration, because those breakers do not trip instantly at peak. If I recall the specs say the welder I have should be connected to a 65 amp circuit, but the factory molded plug supplied is a 50 amp plug. I have to assume they mean hardwired into a 65 amp disconnect switch. Not with the supplied plug.

Reason for mentioning Ali SMAW is that SMAW of steel is the ultimate for getting reliable fusion with small rods and currents.

Don't know if same is so for Ali. That a much smaller rod and current will achieve fusion than with any other process?

Spoolgun sounds good but can't comment. Not used. Welding 5083 with 5183 and 5356 wires, can use conventional GMAW / MIG set with "push" roller feed from the wire spool feeder, as the wire is so hard - for ali - and smooth-sliding.

FYI: I have tried three different types of aluminum brazing wire. All three inspite of claims to the contrary required the base metal to be so close to the melting point that it was crazy for 5052 and 6061 base metal. I could never do a "tack" and repair because the tacks would always melt. I did succeed in doing some very simple jobs with it where I could just get everything crazy hot and gob it on everywhere it was needed, but I also melted out base metal trying a few times. I wonder if you could use the stuff for TIG brazing aluminum, but since he temp is so close might as well use good TIG wire. When it works its pretty strong, but its not as easy as the guys in the shill videos show it to be.

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No idea whatsoever whether this would work, but it might be worth a call to a local SCUBA shop.

They'll have helium containers, and who knows, might be willing to rent one at reasonable cost.

Not a bad idea, but there is a welding shop much closer I have a good relationship with. I don't mind springing for a bottle, but I don't want to not use it for a couple years and find it empty of helium when I need it.

There once was a dive shop here, but they now just operate out of their house filling SCUBA and SCBA air bottles. Mostly for paintball and PCP gunners. I have my own high pressure pump for airgun bottles, so I've never been over there. I also think they have a day job and its just an extra on evenings and weekends for them.

Gas is pretty much gas no matter the source. When I was growing up there was a guy lived not far from use (60 miles from town) who had bad emphasema. More than once he sucked on one of my dad's welding bottles while he was waiting on a refill for his medical bottle.