Another New Lorch

[Brad93]

I have been using Avesta Pickling paste, seems to work but maybe the oven brite would be better?

No tried that. Got some pickling paste at work apparently, will have a go. If it contains sodium hydroxide or hydrofluoric acid & HCL acid it usually works. Takes about 10 minutes with the oven cleaner.

 

[Hood]

Not sure what acid it has in it and it is Antox 71E Plus rather than Avesta so will go look up the specs.
Just etching a bit now that I found, it is the bit I did in this post. http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/lack-of-penetration-on-al.72563/page-2#post-987190

Will post pics in a few mins if it turns out ok.

 

[Hood]

Ok here it is.

 

[Hood]

Just looked up the pickling paste specs, see pic.

 

[Brad93]

Ah yeah hydrofluoric that'll give a nice etch

 

[Brad93]

Nice penetration on that. I'll have to have a few more goes

 

[Hood]

I must admit I tend to like a hot weld with the Mig, always have whether that is good or bad I don't really know but they seem to last. I often have to repair cracked welds on the boats that have been done by others, they always look too cold to me.

 

[Brad93]

I find it very hard to put a hot weld down without it getting out of control and running away.

 

[Hood]

I find it very hard to put a hot weld down without it getting out of control and running away.

I suppose it is all practice, I learned as I went, got my first Mig for Alu when someone wanted me to make a whaleback for their boat, took a wee while to get into the swing of it but it must have been a decent job as it is still on the boat and that must have been 20 years ago and never been repaired Well actually the boat was sold about 5 years ago so maybe it has fallen apart now
Positional welding took a bit of practice to stop it running away but usually got decent results, now with the EWM though it is so easy I can't believe it. Still not the neatest at times but hopefully will get there.


Edit, must have been more than 20 years ago as my mum died 20 years ago and it was at least 4 or 5 years before that. I am getting old

 

[Brad93]

More playing. 6082 T6 1/4" (6mm) 150x50 sample. Wire ESAB Autrod 4043 1.2mm. Machine set on synergic 6mm on both modes. Didn't record amps .

Photo #1: Twinpulse. Dwelled in the pool for a bit longer. Leg length 6-8mm. End cut 50mm from end of run. 2T No crater fill. Small manipulation / whip of the wire.

Photo #2: Speedpulse. Stayed on the leading edge. No manipulation of the wire/pool. Leg length about 5-6mm. Cut 50mm from the start of the run. 2T No hot start.

Photo #3. Twinpulse is left - speedpulse right

Part cooled completely between runs.

Excuse the dark areas. I left the first etch on too long had to scotchbrite and repolish.

 

[Hood]

Looking good Well I think it is but no expert but certainly much better penetration there.
Do you polish with a polishing mop before etching?

 

[Brad93]

Looking good Well I think it is but no expert but certainly much better penetration there.
Do you polish with a polishing mop before etching?

80g, 120g, schotchbrite, then mop with white soap. Then acetoned to clean off residues.

 

[Hood]

Will have to try the polish and see. I just chop mine on the bandsaw and then a quick face mill in the Chiron then etch.
Hoping to get a lot more testing done when I get through with the fitting out of the boats although I have a few people hounding me to do jobs back at the harbour, not been there really since December and they are getting impatient

 

[HughF]

I'll have a go with the spoolgun this coming week, see what my results come out like - nothing fancy power source wise this end, 30v cv engine drive... Be interested to see how they etch, compared with the mixed-tig off the Hitachi.

 

[Brad93]

Never etched a tig Ali weld. Will have a go tomorrow.

 

[Hood]

@Brad93 found a couple of pics of positional welds I have done with the EWM.
Second pic is of 2x 1" dia bars welded to some 1/4" angle, one of the 1" dia is acting as a spacer to keep the other part clear of the hinges. It was the first of the welds I have done with the 1.2 wire rather than the 1mm I used previously.
Afraid I can't slice and etch them as the skipper wouldn't be too happy

 

[Hood]

@Brad93
Hope to get some practice in soon but did a couple of quick welds while I was waiting on the lathe.
The reason I set it to 10.5mm for the first run was I had knocked the pot

 

[Hood]

Lap joint this time, same material etc

 

[Hood]

Ok last one for the day.
Same material but vertical up
Bit scrappy at first but adjusted the wire feed a few times to get where I thought it was good.

 

[Brad93]

Some excellent results there hood. I'll have to dig some thicker material out.