Welding Tips and Tricks

Can aluminum be brazed, using a tig machine?

Matt

Yes, but why would you? It will be less strong than welding it...

cj, I am welding small aluminum tubing 3/16 and being a beginner to aluminum I am having some trouble blowing out the weld joints. I thought if I could braze them I would need less heat but still be strong enough for its intended purpose.

adksigns wrote:cj, I am welding small aluminum tubing 3/16 and being a beginner to aluminum I am having some trouble blowing out the weld joints. I thought if I could braze them I would need less heat but still be strong enough for its intended purpose.

You are blowing through 3/16" thick tubing?

3/16 6061 .035 wall thickness

Farmwelding wrote:

adksigns wrote:cj, I am welding small aluminum tubing 3/16 and being a beginner to aluminum I am having some trouble blowing out the weld joints. I thought if I could braze them I would need less heat but still be strong enough for its intended purpose.

You are blowing through 3/16" thick tubing?

Probably its 3/16" OD and 0.030 wall.

adksigns wrote:cj, I am welding small aluminum tubing 3/16 and being a beginner to aluminum I am having some trouble blowing out the weld joints. I thought if I could braze them I would need less heat but still be strong enough for its intended purpose.

Something to try: preheat your tubing with propane. If your machine allows a change in Freq, dial it up to 150Hz or higher. Set your AC balance down to 65%. This will help reduce your heat effect and penetration a bit. And once your puddle starts, get off the PEDAL. Or, Bump along on/off the pedal making basically tacks of 2-3 dips. Then stop. Let cool a bit, then begin again. Thin aluminum is the Devil's Toy to weld for new welders.

Thanks for the help I have a AHP AlphaTIG 200X 2016 version. To get back to my first question is it possible to tig braze aluminum?

Thank you, everyone, for your help.

adksigns wrote:Thanks for the help I have a AHP AlphaTIG 200X 2016 version. To get back to my first question is it possible to tig braze aluminum?

Thank you, everyone, for your help.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm1VfYEOC50

Hello adksigns
Can you provide more information as to the function or purpose of the tube that you want to braze? This would be helpful in giving the best advice for your situation.

Do you have any photos or drawings of the design?

Looking for a way to Tig braze using less heat to the joints.

Joining 3/16 OD x .035 Aluminum

Picture below

LtBadd wrote:Hello adksigns
Can you provide more information as to the function or purpose of the tube that you want to braze? This would be helpful in giving the best advice for your situation.

Do you have any photos or drawings of the design?

Given that it's 3/16" OD and 0.035 wall, it can only be decorative.

Posted in another related thread.

aluminum brazing