Welding vintage 'Electron' castings.

[cardiffrob]

I've been asked to fix some gearbox bits from a 1930s car. Does anyone know the gen on Electron castings and their suitability for TIG welding?

It is one of those old items that you reeeeeeeeealy don't want to destroy!

Thanks.

 

[hotrodder]

Electron as in elektron i.e. magnesium? If it's Beetle stuff it'll be AS-21 or maybe AS41 although that was introduced later. Mag designations use the first letters to denote alloying elements i.e. A = ally, S = silicon, Z = zinc. The # denote nominal %

A drop of vinegar will tell if it's a mag alloy, it fizzes producing hydrogen but won't react with aluminium (including AlMg) alloys. Mag filler wire is hellishly expensive, a search of the tig forum for 'magnesium' will get you several threads on the subject that describe what's it's like to weld. Welding mag is more different than difficult but it's not a beginners job IMO, especially if the parts are rare/almost irreplacable

 

[cardiffrob]

Thanks. The 'K' in electron has reduced the hits on Google to a more reasonable level!

It is gearbox bits for 1930s MGs. I'll get the vinegar out (Hmmmmm. Fish n Chips) and test one of the pieces. I was told EleKtron but they might be wrong. Fingers crossed.

 

[hotrodder]

I've got a vague recollection that both spellings have been used over the years, maybe because elektron was origionally a German thing and wars were involved? Kinda like the German Shepherd/Alsatian deal?

 

[langy]

I had my first go at welding magnesium recently and didn't think it was that hard really, very much like doing aluminium but a slightly shorter arc.
I can't remember the rod number i used but they were about £7 each