Subject: Re: Aluminum Question

From: [email-masked] (David WebsterXAXX)
Date: 27 Jan 1996 23:15:43 GMT

Tony Jucewicz ([email-masked]) wrote:
:  Press a fastner into a blind hole on the back side.

Pressing it into a through hole from the front is cheaper and easier than 
counter-boring the blind hole.:)

How about a capacitor-discharge stud welder (gun style)?  Do those work 
well on aluminum?

Wait!  Are we talking studs or nuts, how long/large/many?

: The Fishguy ([email-masked]) wrote:
: : Hi, I work in a small plant that presses letters and logos out of
: : several metals. Our major product for many years has been porcelan 
: : enamel on steel. if you see the Good / Year logo bolted to a wall, we 
: : probably did it. Anyway, we are working on moving more into the other 
: : metals; brass, copper, stainless, and aluminum. We can make a quality 
: : aluminum letter for nearly as cheap as plastic. The problem is that we 
: : are having trouble attaching fasteners to the finished letter. Our cash 
: : flow is nowhere near healthy enough to buy a new spot welder that would 
: : handle the job. Does anyone know of a quick and relitively easy way to 
: : weld or otherwise connect two pieces of aluminum?			

: : 				Dave Haun  
: : 				Grinding and Pickling
: : 				Walbridge Corp.

: -- 
: Tony Jucewicz   [email-masked]         Stone is forever ########
: http://www.voicenet.com/~tonyspg             And EVER ################
: BBS (610)346-9047    Stonework "HOW-TO"      And YES, EVER ###########

---

From: [email-masked] (Tony Jucewicz)
Date: 27 Jan 1996 08:11:22 -0500

Press a fastner into a blind hole on the back side.

The Fishguy ([email-masked]) wrote:
: Hi, I work in a small plant that presses letters and logos out of
: several metals. Our major product for many years has been porcelan 
: enamel on steel. if you see the Good / Year logo bolted to a wall, we 
: probably did it. Anyway, we are working on moving more into the other 
: metals; brass, copper, stainless, and aluminum. We can make a quality 
: aluminum letter for nearly as cheap as plastic. The problem is that we 
: are having trouble attaching fasteners to the finished letter. Our cash 
: flow is nowhere near healthy enough to buy a new spot welder that would 
: handle the job. Does anyone know of a quick and relitively easy way to 
: weld or otherwise connect two pieces of aluminum?			

: 				Dave Haun  
: 				Grinding and Pickling
: 				Walbridge Corp.

-- 
Tony Jucewicz   [email-masked]         Stone is forever ########
http://www.voicenet.com/~tonyspg             And EVER ################
BBS (610)346-9047    Stonework "HOW-TO"      And YES, EVER ###########

---

From: [email-masked] (The Fishguy)
Date: 25 Jan 1996 22:06:53 -0500

Hi, I work in a small plant that presses letters and logos out of
several metals. Our major product for many years has been porcelan 
enamel on steel. if you see the Good / Year logo bolted to a wall, we 
probably did it. Anyway, we are working on moving more into the other 
metals; brass, copper, stainless, and aluminum. We can make a quality 
aluminum letter for nearly as cheap as plastic. The problem is that we 
are having trouble attaching fasteners to the finished letter. Our cash 
flow is nowhere near healthy enough to buy a new spot welder that would 
handle the job. Does anyone know of a quick and relitively easy way to 
weld or otherwise connect two pieces of aluminum?			

				Dave Haun  
				Grinding and Pickling
				Walbridge Corp.

---

From: [email-masked] (David William Jenkins)
Date: Sat, 27 Jan 1996 11:47:06 GMT

In article <[email-masked]>, The Fishguy ([email-masked]) writes:
< deletia >
 Does anyone know of a quick and relitively easy way to 
>weld or otherwise connect two pieces of aluminum?                      

This is something for the FAQ (if it isn't there already).  This
has been talked about at some length lately - and I'm not having a
go at you, Dave, for asking again!

In the UK there is something called "Technoweld", which is a form
of "solder" for aluminium.  I'm sure that the same is available in
the USA, perhaps with a different name. I used the word solder with
care, because it's on a fine line between soldering and welding. 

The only extra equipment needed to stick two pieces of al. together
are a stainless steel wire brush, a stainless steel scratcher (a
wire in a stick) and a propane torch. After an enthusiastic cleaning
and brushing, the al. is heated while the stick of solder is moved
around on top. After a little while the solder will wet the
surface.  Do the same to the other piece. Hold the two pieces
together and heat, perhaps adding a little extra solder, using the
scratch stick to "encourage" it. 

The solder works at a temerature well below the melting point of the
al., although you still have to be careful.

It's really that easy!  I saw this at a local welding supplier's
show, and had a go - first attempt I welded one piece of 1/16" al.
to another, and later mangled the metal completely, without
damaging the joint in any way.

David Jenkins              -- aka --             Lathyrus Computers Ltd
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