New welding aluminum, quick rod question

[Matman]

which rod would be best to weld a cast alloy inlet manifold??

and which tips are best to weld aluminium??

Cheers mat

 

[Autolupus]

With cast I'd go with a silicon filler (4043) and zirconiated or lanthanated tungstens.

 

[NTwoO]

4047 is a popular choice with cast components, but with cast alu the type of casting alloy is very important for the choice of rod. It can thus result in a divergent choice of rod alloy.

 

[hotrodder]

4043/4047 will both work, one may be a better choice than the other but unless you know what alloy the manifold was cast from...

Preheat the manifold thoroughly (100-150C) before striking an arc and if it's a used manifold be prepared to have a load of crap bubble up through the puddle even if it's been thoroughly cleaned first- doesn't always happen, depends on the quality of the casting some weld nicely others are like an aero bar from new.

 

[NTwoO]

Indeed, I fixed some garden chairs of ours. The cast alu welded to extruded alu corroded off. I cleaned everything thoroughly, but when I started welding. The oxide just kept on coming. Absolute madness.