Who welds aluminum well?

Discussion in 'Modifications & DIY how-to' started by baddriver, Jun 8, 2009.

  1. baddriver

    baddriver Active Member

    I'll need an aluminum BOV flange welded to a 2.5" 2mm thick piece of intercooler piping, after I get to the point of test fitting everything in the next few weeks.

    Would anyone know of a shop or individual somewhere in the NW burbs or intown who is comfortable welding aluminum and that would do this for a reasonable rate?
     
  2. Cool_____

    Cool_____ Banned

    Nicad does good job from what I've seen.
     
  3. ZenMotors

    ZenMotors Member

    There is a shop called Mckellco in Alpharetta. The guy there Steve is amazing. He has done plenty of aluminum bov flanges. Talk cash. Probably about $35-45 bucks

    Mckellco Inc
    735a Branch Dr Ste A
    Alpharetta, GA 30004-7719
    (770) 475-0421
     
  4. integroid

    integroid Supporting Member

    Nicad doesn't weld aluminum. You can see if Breel or slowrx can do it as well.
     
  5. nicad

    nicad Yes I am a troll

  6. 07Ltd#767

    07Ltd#767 The Neighborhood Drunk

    Send Slowwrx a PM...he's in the Marietta area, he's getting pretty good at welding aluminum now
     
  7. b reel

    b reel Active Member

    Brandon at Battleground does a great job with a tig.

    Buy Nicad's welder, Miller Maxstar 200.

    Matt, can do it also.
     
    Last edited: Jun 8, 2009
  8. nicad

    nicad Yes I am a troll

    yah.
    [​IMG]

    does DC TIG, pulsed TIG, stick welding, high frequency starts, pulse controls, pre/post flow adjustments. weighs 37lbs, and can be run from single phase 120V.

    it's a badass welder
     
  9. b reel

    b reel Active Member

    If I didn't have my AC/DC, I'd buy in a heartbeat. I'll check with some pipefitters here, they might be interested. Send me an asking price for it.
     
  10. ZenMotors

    ZenMotors Member

    Let me know about that Welder. Send me details. I need a Tig
     
  11. Matt

    Matt Think before you post Staff Member Supporting Member

  12. ZenMotors

    ZenMotors Member

    How much?
     
  13. STiBottom

    STiBottom Member

    Make sure your intercooler pipes are not steel like mine
     
  14. baddriver

    baddriver Active Member

    They're 2mm thick aluminum. I almost screwed-up and ordered
    a steel flange.
     
  15. nicad

    nicad Yes I am a troll


    PMd
     
  16. slowwrx

    slowwrx Supporting Member

    Take it by Batlground if I'm not there Dan or Brandon will do it for a reasonable price
     
  17. baddriver

    baddriver Active Member

    Thanks Matt!

    I may also need more welds on the IC piping. I'll know more in a
    few weeks after I get the engine back in the car.
     
  18. siegelracing

    siegelracing Registered Vendor<br><b><font color="#666666">bion

    We weld aluminum all the time... We've done a number of complete custom IC setups lately.

    Siegel
     
  19. baddriver

    baddriver Active Member

    That's good to hear.

    My friend and mentor who's working with me on the Legacy
    fabricates steel roll-cages and suspension stuff for rock crawlers
    like a madman, but he isn't set up to do aluminum.

    Is transitioning to from steel to aluminum difficult?
     
  20. Cool_____

    Cool_____ Banned

    Yes. Aluminum is very soft and is like water when you try to weld it. It also requires a very different type of welder than steel.
     
  21. nicad

    nicad Yes I am a troll

    takes a little bit more current, and the weld puddle looks different. you have to wait for the puddle to form and strip the aluminum oxide layer off before adding filler (otherwise the weld will be contaminated). the process is essentially the same, however. you just have to use an AC machine (either MIG or TIG) and using a slightly different tungsten for best results.
     
  22. b reel

    b reel Active Member

    pure tungsten for AL, 2% thoriated for steel, ceriated for both AL and Steel and is not mildly radioactive like thoriated. Walk through an airport with that in your pocket
     
  23. Cool_____

    Cool_____ Banned

    How much is a decent AC Tig?
     
  24. nicad

    nicad Yes I am a troll

    heh. when I used to run control point watch for reactor compartment entries on a submarine (hooray), the welders would always come in with thoriated tungsten rods. it would set off the friskers and geiger-counters when they would perform their body frisk upon exit.

    it is mildy radioactive, somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 ccpm>background

    not as cool as hitting bongs of activated Argon-41 and drinking primary coolant, though
     
  25. b reel

    b reel Active Member

    For a good AC/DC TIG, around $2K. If interested PM me as this is my primary job, "propane and propane accessories"
     
  26. 07Ltd#767

    07Ltd#767 The Neighborhood Drunk

    get it, hank...say hey to the rest of the gang on king of the hill for me

    :beer: yup...mmmhmmm...
     

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