Welding Pop Cans ??? - Page 2

Bill Beauregard · Sun Jun 08, 2014 5:09 pm

With the old Transformer TIG I went down to .040" tungsten to control arc wander. It wanted to arc from the side of the tungsten, laterally to the shoulder of one can otherwise.

Superiorwelding · Mon Jun 09, 2014 9:39 pm

Alright I gave it a go before I came in for the night. I used the Syncrowave set at 50 amps and 1 pps, 3/32" 4943 filler and .040 zirconiated. I guess it was not to bad for a quick go. Will have to work on it again with the other cans.
-Jonathan

dirtmidget33 · Mon Jun 09, 2014 11:17 pm

Superior Welding That looks really good. I never heard of that 4943 filler had to look it up there is a mess of aluminum fillers trying to learn about them as I go along.

My second attempt better than my last one. Remembered to change frequency this was done at 150 hertz instead of 80 machine set to 50 amps using pedal so not really welded at 50amps. 20% cleaning action. Wish I had 1/16 filler instead of 3/32 filler think I could have gotten a lot better bead. For those trying it lay filler in grove and strike arc on filler then wash puddle on to cans. At least that's way I did it. If anyone has a better way I would love to hear it.

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dirtmidget33 · Mon Jun 09, 2014 11:45 pm

Superiorwelding does that .040 tungsten want to ball up on AC real bad? I know I had to not sharpen my 1/16 to a needle but more of a 45 degree angle or it would just suck up. This was my first attempts at using anything smaller that 3/32 tungsten on aluminum. I try to use more of a point than the ball when I weld AL.

Superiorwelding · Mon Jun 09, 2014 11:59 pm

dirtmidget33 wrote:Superiorwelding does that .040 tungsten want to ball up on AC real bad? I know I had to not sharpen my 1/16 to a needle but more of a 45 degree angle or it would just suck up. This was my first attempts at using anything smaller that 3/32 tungsten on aluminum. I try to use more of a point than the ball when I weld AL.

Actually I didn't do anything to the tip, just threw it in and welded. It did ball up and held very well. I have found zirconiated to hold up very well in the transformer machines. Normally I would sharpen to a sharp tip and square it off. On a inverter I try to get as sharp a point as I can using 2% Lanthinated. I think I will try some .020 tomorrow and see how that works out.
Good job on the welds!
-Jonathan

aeroplain · Tue Jun 10, 2014 8:09 pm

It was goin OK til I popped through. Never tried before, but this thread ..... had to try.

3/23 Lanth, 3/32 4043, and about thirty anps. Syncrowave 250.

Kent

gamble · Wed Jun 11, 2014 11:09 am

So what, keep going. I got a hole in a pop can and was able to fill it!

aeroplain · Wed Jun 11, 2014 7:37 pm

Ya, when my boss isn't lookin I will.

Wed Jun 11, 2014 7:47 pm

I popped a hole in the top of a beer can, not fifteen minutes ago.

My goal is not to fill it, but rather, empty it...

Steve S

aeroplain · Wed Jun 11, 2014 8:33 pm

Well played Sir.

Otto Nobedder wrote:I popped a hole in the top of a beer can, not fifteen minutes ago.

My goal is not to fill it, but rather, empty it...

Steve S

noddybrian · Thu Jun 12, 2014 2:44 pm

A lone can ? ! - surely there should be more than one for safety reasons ! - think of it like the buddy system when diving or a polar expedition ! safety in numbers - the 1st can may disappear without trace - no one will know what happened to it - best send for back up ! or an expert like Jack Daniels !

Braehill · Thu Jun 12, 2014 5:09 pm

I'm not sure why you guys keep welding pop cans, I buy ones that don't leak, no welding needed.

Len

Thu Jun 12, 2014 6:45 pm

My cans, like wolves, travel in "packs"...

There's safety in numbers.

Alumike · Fri Jul 04, 2014 7:55 pm

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Here is my first attempt at pop cans. Wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I blew a couple holes but managed to fill them. The hardest part was holding the can in place. Used 1/16 red electrode, not pointed, just cracked off to a fresh, clean area.

dirtmidget33 · Fri Jul 04, 2014 9:33 pm

Try using a piece of angle iron to hold cans and just hook ground clamp to the angle iron. I also found it necessary to put small hole in middle of at least one of the cans so you wont have trouble with closing up the weld from the preasure of an enclosed space

Fri Jul 04, 2014 10:56 pm

Dirtmidget has a great point...

If you don't poke a hole in the bottom of one of the cans, you'll have blowout at closure.