Tig welding tips, questions, equipment, applications, instructions, techniques, tig welding machines, troubleshooting tig welding process
Shaky6
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    Thu Dec 21, 2017 12:47 pm

I'm a TIG noob and I just bought my first TIG machine. Lincoln squarewave 200.

I've got an aluminum stock pot with a pinhole in the bottom. So small you can't see it, but it weeps water. Can TIG this without a filler rod and not destroy the pot?
Last edited by Shaky6 on Tue Jan 02, 2018 5:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
cj737
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    Thu Sep 29, 2016 8:59 am

Unlikely in my opinion. Even a small 1/16th filler rod dabbed then flapped flush is probably needed. When you hit aluminum cast parts, they often are filled with air pockets. No filler, and you’ll open a chasm you’ll never fill.
Shaky6
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    Thu Dec 21, 2017 12:47 pm

10-4, thank you sir
Poland308
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Unless it’s not cast but stamped then it’s definitely possible. Plus even if it’s cast it may be worth a shot just because it’s already junk with a hole.
I have more questions than answers

Josh
MarkL
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Many stock pots are spun, which commonly uses 3003 aluminum, in which case it will take well to welding.
Lincoln Square Wave 200
Lincoln 225 AC/DC
Harris Oxy/Acetylene torch
Bill Beauregard
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I take two pieces of .062" aluminum 6061, lay them tightly together. I run a tig bead autogenously, (no filler added). It looks beautiful! As I watch, it cracks full length.

Jody talks of aluminum being "hot short", extremely brittle until it has cooled. You will need extra material to prevent cracking as it shrinks. After cool, you will then be able to grind flat.

Likely the hole is a bit dirty, it'll need to be cleaned out with a carbide burr anyway.

4943

Willie
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