| Author |
Message |
    
Ke0koy
Junior Member
Username: Ke0koy
Post Number: 23
Registered: 12-2018
| | Posted on Monday, May 04, 2020 - 8:58 pm: | 
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Just wanted to share with everyone something that has me excited. I bought a cheap pack of low melting temp aluminum welding rods that work with a small propane-only torch and to my amazement the aluminum surfaces tinned with these aluminum whatever rods takes to normal soldering very well. I just soldered a 14 gauge copper wire to an old aluminium sun awning roller and pulled as hard as i could. The wire broke above the solder. Did the same thing to the bottom of a schmidt beer can with a brass wire connector and pulled with a pliers, the can bottom tore off with it. For $12, there is a no-flux way to prepare aluminum for simple soldering!!! |
Charliebrown
Advanced Member
Username: Charliebrown
Post Number: 714
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 05, 2020 - 1:23 pm: |
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So Brandon do I understand there is no preparation to the aluminum no fux no paste and it held great? This is very interesting. Can you inform me of the size rod's your talking about? |
Ke0koy
Junior Member
Username: Ke0koy
Post Number: 24
Registered: 12-2018
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 06, 2020 - 3:22 pm: |
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I have a youtube video of what I tried. It is not neat and I did not take my time. The part where I state "it didn't stick" was immediately after adding solder to the aluminum tinned surface and I immediately moved it not giving it a chance to cool. It sticks very well. I soldered a 14ga wire to an element from a tv antenna and pulled till the wire broke. the joint held solid. This video demonstrates impatience and cruddy work, but all I was interested in was a strength test, so here it is
https://youtu.be/cAthHc1jurE |
Ke0koy
Junior Member
Username: Ke0koy
Post Number: 25
Registered: 12-2018
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 06, 2020 - 9:34 pm: |
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In fact, for a better demonstration, look at the guys doing refrigeration condensers. They use just the low temp aluminum welding rods (theres flux inside them, but they are dirt cheap) to joint aluminum to copper tubing. What i did has plenty room for improvement! |
Charliebrown
Advanced Member
Username: Charliebrown
Post Number: 715
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, May 07, 2020 - 8:29 am: |
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Thanks for the info. |
