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Aluminum gas welding can be accomplished with gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) and it can also be used to weld steel, as well as other metals. GTAW is also called tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding. Welding steel is one of the easier jobs when using rig welding, but there are a number of factors, which make it much harder to weld aluminum.

From cleanliness, arc length, machine settings, welding with a dirty tungsten electrode, filler rod angle, type of electrode, torch angle and size of electrode – you have to be extra-careful with all of these factors when you tig weld aluminum.

Here we go over these factors and how you have to be much more careful with aluminum than with steel.

- Make sure that the settings for your machine are correct. Set your machine to use alternating current and the high frequency switch should be at continuous mode otherwise it will make the arc stutter.

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- A piece or object of aluminum left outside is likely to be highly oxidized after having come in contact with the elements. That should be weld only after thoroughly cleaning it – otherwise it will burn or weld extremely fast.

- Arc length – it is important to keep the arc at just the correct length. Arc lengths too long or too short, both should be avoided with aluminum. Too short the length, you your metal will jump on your electrode, damaging that and you. Too long a length and the heat will not be pinpointed enough to be of proper use.

- Keep your electrode clean. A dirty electrode will make the weld sooty – taking any fun out of the job you may have been having.

- Do not use pure tungsten electrodes with the new types of tig inverters to weld aluminum. The old types could use them, but not these new ones.

- You should keep the 1/16″, 3/32″ and 1/8″ sized tungsten electrodes within easy reach when working with aluminum. With steel it is one size fits all policy, where you can go with a 3/32″ tungsten for most of the jobs. But with aluminum, you need different electrodes depending on the thickness of the aluminum.

Aluminum gas welding just needs to be done with more care than other types of welding. Keep all these factors in mind and you will have your aluminum boat repaired or your ladder fixed in the best possible manner.

The popular jewelry manufacturing procedure was already recognized for the use of gas welding in mid nineteenth century also, but only a blend of hydrogen and oxygen was used in the process as, together, they formed a very intense and hot blaze. It was the invention of acetylene at the end of the same century that shaped gas welding what it is today. Acetylene is a gas that is formed by the chemical grouping of water and calcium carbide; in gas welding, this amalgam may provide flames up to 4000 degrees Fahrenheit. Currently, it is pretty common to use a combination of acetylene and oxygen in gas welding to acquire a higher temperature of 6000 deg. F.

The advantages of gas welding include lower costs, mobility of LPG equipment transport and flexibility, compared to the use of electric set ups. Moreover, there is no difference in terms of performance since any metal can be welded, cut or heated using a gas welding tool on oxygen and acetylene. If you choose gas welding, ensure that cylinders need to be kept in a vertical order, and that the caps of valve should be in right place when the cylinders are not in use.

The cylinders are associated between them and the torch with all sorts of hoses, available in various sizes; one prominent mention here is that all hoses used in gas welding need to be marked with the kind of repair level they are meant for: light, normal, or heavy. When purchasing the LPG equipment, make sure that you know all the details for the rubber welding hoses. The user of Gas welding is exposed to the danger of combustion in the hoses and regulators; hence, daily valve tests are required in order to ward off flashbacks.

Some of the gas welding tools are specifically designed to curb flashbacks; which is acquired with the help of a flashback arrestor. This device is identical to a check valve, but it also includes a trap that cuts of the gas flow when flashback occurs; hence, arrestors are a must-have type of LPG equipment that is important for those who use gas welding equipments.

Gas Welding Safety Tips

To lift up gas cylinders, use the LPG equipments that are designed to perform that task.

Check torches and clean only using suitable tools.

While welding use blowback guard torches.

Always keep a watch on the LPG equipment and fix any leakages at all connections.

Check hoses for worn and leaks spots.

Keep fire extinguishers at handy places, at the welding site.

Keep cylinders and hoses away from flames, sparks, to avoid any holes on it.

Use a flint lighter to fire the flame in welder.

Use two-stage regulators whenever required.

Open cylinder valves very slowly when using a single-stage regulator.

During using a single-stage regulator, open only the acetylene cylinder valve 1/4 to 3/4 turn.

Keep the wrench in place. In this way you can close the cylinder easily and quickly in case of any emergency.

Established in 1993, Riland Industry Co., Ltd. is the first manufacturer of inverter welding machines in China. With 16 years of R&D effort, today Riland has become the leader in manufacturing inverter welding/cutting power source and integrated automatic welding equipment sets. For details, please contact benjamin@riland.com.cn

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