pidgeon chit welder
sticking metal since 1962
- Messages
- 961
You can also use a solid bar of soap as well as wood (match). When you achieve a black mark/line, the al/al has now reached annealing temperature, this is a cheap and easy check if working/shaping al/al. Same applies if working with copper.
Ditto with backpurge, O&A welding al/al is a black art, certainly not impossible. I used to work with an ex Ferranti trained metalworker who was brilliant O&A welding al/al..............
WAAAAAHHHH ..,. Runnach .....you stole my lines.
So to add a wee bit more ..someone posted use a " soft flame " with the gas ... a small flame that is neutral ie not too blue ( too much oxygen nor lending to a yellow tinge ( too much acetylene )
Fairy green soap used to be the best in town but any green palmolive type is good... keep it away from the actual weld seam by about 1/2 inch .
With light speedy fluid dabbing movements you can get some great ally welds right down to 1.5mm thick stuff ..like life don't dwell in the hot stuff for too long .