REALLY easy welding question

[SarcasticDwarf]

A friend of mine will be teaching me to use a (I think) TIG welder tommorow. Heres my question: Is there any problem with welding a common rectangular hinge (2" length) to a piece of aluminum of .065 thickness on one side and steel on the other? I only as due to the difference in materials.

 

[Wallydraigle]

I've never welded aluminum bonded to steel, but any time you heat bonded metal like that it's going to try to warp because the different metals expand different amounts. That's actually what they use in thermostats, or they used to, because the metal warps and bridges the contacts at a certain temperature. Make sure it's securely clamped to something flat and rigid until it cools.

 

[Anubis]

aluminum is harder to weld because it dissapated heat so well. you have to get it heated right for it to bond. also makeing the surface rough helps teh bonding also

 

[FrustratedUser]

That is no easy question.
Steel to steel is far easier IIRC.

 

[Ronstang]

Steel to aluminum is not hard......it is IMPOSSIBLE!!!!!!!!

 

[Brutuskend]

You can't weld dissimilar metals together. At least not ferrous and non ferrous metals.

The only way to bond them together on the molecular level is with shaped charges and high explosives.

(Don't try this at home!!!)

 

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: DeathByAnts
Heres my question: Is there any problem with welding a common rectangular hinge (2" length) to a piece of aluminum of .065 thickness on one side and steel on the other? .

Yeah, it's impossible. You cannot weld steel to aluminum. The melting point of steel is about 2700 degrees, and the melting point of aluminum is around 1200 degrees.

I tried it once when I was younger just to see what would happen and I got an intense white flash, and there was a huge hole where the welding rod touched the aluminum. It just vaporized it.

 

[Cyberian]

I always found that welding Aluminum to Aluminum was enough of a challenge.
Welding Aluminum to Steel sounds difficult, at best.

Let us know how it works out.
I, for one, am curious.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

alright-I have 1" cubic steel framing and a top of .065 aluminum sheeting. I need to attach hinges. I can't use normal hinges because they screw into the material and that will not work in this case. Suggestions?

 

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: Cyberian
I always found that welding Aluminum to Aluminum was enough of a challenge.
Welding Aluminum to Steel sounds difficult, at best.

Did you not hear the "impossible" part?

 

[MacBaine]

Originally posted by: DeathByAnts
alright-I have 1" cubic steel framing and a top of .065 aluminum sheeting. I need to attach hinges. I can't use normal hinges because they screw into the material and that will not work in this case. Suggestions?

lava

edit: or st@b it together

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

blast furnace...small little pile will be all thats left

 

[Brutuskend]

The only way would be some sort of super adhesive.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: Brutuskend
The only way would be some sort of super adhesive.

So have any of your 7,483 posts actually been helpful?

 

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: DeathByAnts

Originally posted by: Brutuskend
The only way would be some sort of super adhesive.

So have any of your 7,483 posts actually been helpful?

Actually a good epoxy will hold very, very good. It's the stuff that holds carbon fiber together.

 

[Brutuskend]

Originally posted by: DeathByAnts

Originally posted by: Brutuskend
The only way would be some sort of super adhesive.

So have any of your 7,483 posts actually been helpful?

Try welding it and THEN say that!

I used to weld for a living, and I'm trying to share my knowledge. If you don't find that helpful...then I guess you can go ahead and *&% yourself!

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: Brutuskend

Originally posted by: DeathByAnts

Originally posted by: Brutuskend
The only way would be some sort of super adhesive.

So have any of your 7,483 posts actually been helpful?

Try welding it and THEN say that!
I used to weld for a living, and I'm trying to share my knowledge. If you don't find that helpful...then I guess you can go ahead and *&% yourself!

So could you be just a TAD more specific? So say, brands or suppliers?

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Brutuskend

Originally posted by: DeathByAnts

Originally posted by: Brutuskend
The only way would be some sort of super adhesive.

So have any of your 7,483 posts actually been helpful?

Try welding it and THEN say that!

I used to weld for a living, and I'm trying to share my knowledge. If you don't find that helpful...then I guess you can go ahead and *&% yourself!

Pics?

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Marshallj

Originally posted by: DeathByAnts

Originally posted by: Brutuskend
The only way would be some sort of super adhesive.

So have any of your 7,483 posts actually been helpful?

Actually a good epoxy will hold very, very good. It's the stuff that holds carbon fiber together.

Not to mention some of Lotus' and Renault's aluminum chassies.

 

[Brutuskend]

Maybe you will find this helpful!?

Like i said......

Edit: Try J&B weld or some other STRONG epoxy. I've also had good luck with "Super Mend Epoxy" (Goggle it yourself)

 

[Eli]

LOL @ welding steel and aluminum...

I second the JB Weld, but I really don't know how well it will hold something like a door. Depends on how heavy/big it is. It won't be a problem if it's small and light.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: Eli
LOL @ welding steel and aluminum...

I second the JB Weld, but I really don't know how well it will hold something like a door. Depends on how heavy/big it is. It won't be a problem if it's small and light.

It is a size of 24x24 inches, and weighs 4.25 pounds. It is a top opening item.

 

[wfbberzerker]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: Brutuskend

Originally posted by: DeathByAnts

Originally posted by: Brutuskend
The only way would be some sort of super adhesive.

So have any of your 7,483 posts actually been helpful?

Try welding it and THEN say that!

I used to weld for a living, and I'm trying to share my knowledge. If you don't find that helpful...then I guess you can go ahead and *&% yourself!

Pics?

more like pwned

 

[Squisher]

Aluminum to steel welding, like others have said, is near impossible, however the Russians did this in one of their older migs.

One of the few technologies the the Bolsheviks had that we didn't. Although most would feel the use of this technique is unnecessary.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: DeathByAnts

Originally posted by: Eli
LOL @ welding steel and aluminum...

I second the JB Weld, but I really don't know how well it will hold something like a door. Depends on how heavy/big it is. It won't be a problem if it's small and light.

It is a size of 24x24 inches, and weighs 4.25 pounds. It is a top opening item.

Ahh, top opening.. It might be okay. Won't be subject to so much shearing stresses.

Well, the key to a good epoxy hold is a VERY clean surface.. and for metal, you'll probably want to rough the surface up a little.