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SilBrz repair on Aluminum

Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2017 6:09 pm
by LtBadd
In a recent thread it was suggested to use silicon bronze to repair a pin hole in aluminum, so I thought I give a try to see what happens. I welded two 1/8" Al flats, drilled a hole and went for it.
IMG_0489.JPG
IMG_0489.JPG (37.2 KiB) Viewed 2183 times
Making the silbrz weld, notice green tint
Making the silbrz weld, notice green tint
AL_SilBrz 2.jpg (20.49 KiB) Viewed 2183 times
completed repair
completed repair
Img_0494a.jpg (30.92 KiB) Viewed 2183 times
Img_0494a1.jpg
Img_0494a1.jpg (81.66 KiB) Viewed 2183 times

Re: SilBrz repair on Aluminum

Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2017 6:14 pm
by Farmwelding
Since the aluminum melts at a lower temp that should be expected-silicon bronze and aluminum mixing kind of like steel and aluminum it isn't gonna work to well. I feel bad you had to ruin such a nice bead.
That is some nasty aluminum you have there though.

Re: SilBrz repair on Aluminum

Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2017 7:12 pm
by 5th Street Fab
LtBadd wrote:In a recent thread it was suggested to use silicon bronze to repair a pin hole in aluminum, so I thought I give a try to see what happens. I welded two 1/8" Al flats, drilled a hole and went for it.
IMG_0489.JPG
AL_SilBrz 2.jpg
Img_0494a.jpg
Img_0494a1.jpg
I tried yesterday too since I had it out. But tried on DC and it just wandered and rolled it up

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Re: SilBrz repair on Aluminum

Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2017 7:55 pm
by LtBadd
5th Street Fab wrote:I tried yesterday too since I had it out. But tried on DC and it just wandered and rolled it up

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I did use Dc for the Silbrz weld

Re: SilBrz repair on Aluminum

Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2017 11:12 pm
by 5th Street Fab
LtBadd wrote:
5th Street Fab wrote:I tried yesterday too since I had it out. But tried on DC and it just wandered and rolled it up

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
I did use Dc for the Silbrz weld
Hmm just looked really dull figured it was ac, I might try that and see if anything different happens


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Re: SilBrz repair on Aluminum

Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2017 1:11 am
by Rudy Ray
Would Aluminum Bronze work on Aluminum?
I don't have any or I'd try it myself.

Re: SilBrz repair on Aluminum

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2017 12:07 am
by Rudy Ray
I just ordered some Alum Bronz, holy crap that stuff is more expensive than I thought it would be. $15/lb & only a 10 lb box. I have a use for at least 3 lbs of it to save a $850 part on my sheet metal break, so it is worth it.

And I'll try it on aluminum and report back.

Re: SilBrz repair on Aluminum

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2017 3:57 am
by weldin mike 27
I have a friend who is going to send me a few sticks of sil-bro to try in exchange for some codes. One day....... :cry:

Re: SilBrz repair on Aluminum

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2017 11:03 pm
by MinnesotaDave
I guess I'm puzzled by this thread?
I've not seen any listings for sil-bronze or alum-bronze used for joining aluminum?
Did I miss something?

I recently used some alum-bronze rod to tig braze a cast iron piece - worked very well.

I expected it to though as the A2 alum-bronze I bought was specifically listed for cast iron and Jody had done a video on it as well (much appreciated by the way :) ).

Re: SilBrz repair on Aluminum

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 4:23 am
by weldin mike 27
The initial post is completely on the wrong track. No use for sil-bro or al-bro on aluminium. But as usual we hi jacked the thread.

Re: SilBrz repair on Aluminum

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 6:35 am
by LtBadd
MinnesotaDave wrote:I guess I'm puzzled by this thread?
I've not seen any listings for sil-bronze or alum-bronze used for joining aluminum?
Did I miss something?

I recently used some alum-bronze rod to tig braze a cast iron piece - worked very well.

I expected it to though as the A2 alum-bronze I bought was specifically listed for cast iron and Jody had done a video on it as well (much appreciated by the way :) ).
As stated in the completely wrong initial post, someone else in another thread talked of using silbrz to fix a hole in AL, I just wanted to give it a try and see what happens, and here we are.

Re: SilBrz repair on Aluminum

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 7:21 pm
by Otto Nobedder
I was a partial contributor to that fiasco, and I apologize. We were discussing a 16 gauge aluminum fuel tank. These phrases do not belong together, since an aluminum fuel tank should be 11 gauge, at least, and I replied on the Si-Br while thinking stainless steel, which would be more appropriate at that thickness. I opened my mouth after pouring beer down it, and confused the issue.

Steve S

Re: SilBrz repair on Aluminum

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 7:22 pm
by exnailpounder
Otto Nobedder wrote:I was a partial contributor to that fiasco, and I apologize. We were discussing a 16 gauge aluminum fuel tank. These phrases do not belong together, since an aluminum fuel tank should be 11 gauge, at least, and I replied on the Si-Br while thinking stainless steel, which would be more appropriate at that thickness. I opened my mouth after pouring beer down it, and confused the issue.

Steve S
Happens to all of us....try vodka next time :lol:

Re: SilBrz repair on Aluminum

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 7:24 pm
by Otto Nobedder
exnailpounder wrote: Happens to all of us....try vodka next time :lol:
Have a fine bottle of it in the fridge, as I type this.

Steve S

Re: SilBrz repair on Aluminum

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 7:27 pm
by exnailpounder
Otto Nobedder wrote:
exnailpounder wrote: Happens to all of us....try vodka next time :lol:
Have a fine bottle of it in the fridge, as I type this.

Steve S
Mine is out of the fridge as I type this. :lol: Going slow because I have to pick the wife up soon but after that :twisted:

Re: SilBrz repair on Aluminum

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 7:31 pm
by Otto Nobedder
exnailpounder wrote:
Otto Nobedder wrote:
exnailpounder wrote: Happens to all of us....try vodka next time :lol:
Have a fine bottle of it in the fridge, as I type this.

Steve S
Mine is out of the fridge as I type this. :lol: Going slow because I have to pick the wife up soon but after that :twisted:
I have to work tomorrow, so it's beer tonight, as the vodka gets cold alongside the tomato and orange juices for various concoctions I may choose to make.

Steve S

Re: SilBrz repair on Aluminum

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 7:52 pm
by LtBadd
Otto Nobedder wrote:I was a partial contributor to that fiasco, and I apologize. We were discussing a 16 gauge aluminum fuel tank. These phrases do not belong together, since an aluminum fuel tank should be 11 gauge, at least, and I replied on the Si-Br while thinking stainless steel, which would be more appropriate at that thickness. I opened my mouth after pouring beer down it, and confused the issue.

Steve S
As I recall from the last podcast with Jimmy Diresta, he said always be willing to experiment. I didn't try that to see if it would work, but to see what would happen.

Below is something I did many years ago on another job, we had purge chambers for Ti parts and we'd use these Ti coupons for a test weld to see if the chamber was ready, I used Inco 62 filler just to see what would happen, I thought it looked cool and kept it all these years.
The coupon looks dark because, well it's been around awhile
Img_0506.jpg
Img_0506.jpg (29.95 KiB) Viewed 1368 times

Re: SilBrz repair on Aluminum

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 8:00 pm
by Otto Nobedder
LtBadd wrote:
Otto Nobedder wrote:I was a partial contributor to that fiasco, and I apologize. We were discussing a 16 gauge aluminum fuel tank. These phrases do not belong together, since an aluminum fuel tank should be 11 gauge, at least, and I replied on the Si-Br while thinking stainless steel, which would be more appropriate at that thickness. I opened my mouth after pouring beer down it, and confused the issue.

Steve S
As I recall from the last podcast with Jimmy Diresta, he said always be willing to experiment. I didn't try that to see if it would work, but to see what would happen.

Below is something I did many years ago on another job, we had purge chambers for Ti parts and we'd use these Ti coupons for a test weld to see if the chamber was ready, I used Inco 62 filler just to see what would happen, I thought it looked cool and kept it all these years.
The coupon looks dark because, well it's been around awhile
Img_0506.jpg
Fossilized weldipede?

Re: SilBrz repair on Aluminum

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 8:05 pm
by Farmwelding
Fossilized centipede? Why isn't that in a museum. Gosh I better call the museum of welding up and tell them you have it.

Re: SilBrz repair on Aluminum

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 8:46 pm
by weldin mike 27
A grass hopper walks into a bar. The barman says "we've got a drink named after you...." "Wow.." says the grasshopper. "Who would call a drink Kevin"

Re: SilBrz repair on Aluminum

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 8:49 pm
by Otto Nobedder
weldin mike 27 wrote:A grass hopper walks into a bar. The barman says "we've got a drink named after you...." "Wow.." says the grasshopper. "Who would call a drink Kevin"
I'm telling that to my friend, Kevin, on Monday.

Steve S

Re: SilBrz repair on Aluminum

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 8:51 pm
by Farmwelding
weldin mike 27 wrote:A grass hopper walks into a bar. The barman says "we've got a drink named after you...." "Wow.." says the grasshopper. "Who would call a drink Kevin"
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Re: SilBrz repair on Aluminum

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 8:51 pm
by Otto Nobedder
They have a drink named after me, too. I call it "Sex on the Beach."
My wife calls it, "Sand in the Vagina Sucks!"

Steve S

Re: SilBrz repair on Aluminum

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 10:14 pm
by LtBadd
weldin mike 27 wrote:A grass hopper walks into a bar. The barman says "we've got a drink named after you...." "Wow.." says the grasshopper. "Who would call a drink Kevin"
A grass hopper walks into a bar. The barman says "we've got a drink named after you...." "Wow.." says the grasshopper. "Who would call a drink Kwai Chang Caine

Re: SilBrz repair on Aluminum

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 10:57 pm
by WoodpeckerWelder
LtBadd wrote:
weldin mike 27 wrote:A grass hopper walks into a bar. The barman says "we've got a drink named after you...." "Wow.." says the grasshopper. "Who would call a drink Kevin"
A grass hopper walks into a bar. The barman says "we've got a drink named after you...." "Wow.." says the grasshopper. "Who would call a drink Kwai Chang Caine
One would have to be of a certain age to appreciate that one.... :lol: