The Breakroom > The Water Cooler
Looking for someone who can weld aluminum
Dean W:
--- Quote from: Lew_Merrick_PE on September 03, 2010, 10:44:27 AM --- magician caliber welders
--- End quote ---
What a bunch of nonsense!
Eric, find a motorcycle shop that makes or works on frames. There is no magic to it. You just need a guy
who is familiar with MIG and motorcycles. From the areas you listed, you probably have a number of
custom shops within reasonable driving distance, and most of them will employ a guy who's handy at pushing rod.
Dean
Lew_Merrick_PE:
--- Quote from: Dean W on September 03, 2010, 10:36:05 PM ---
--- Quote from: Lew_Merrick_PE on September 03, 2010, 10:44:27 AM --- magician caliber welders
--- End quote ---
What a bunch of nonsense!
--- End quote ---
If you had bothered to read my post, first I suggested truck/trailer repair shops and then magician caliber welders. Such people exist. There are tasks appropriate to such skills. As I have no idea what Eric's needs are (beyond the short listing), I wanted to be sure to cover all bases.
Someone who can weld a 14 inch diameter thin-wall 316 stainless arbor with less than .0015 total distortion qualifies as a magician rather than a welder. Such people lie not too heavily upon the ground. As I said, there are only 7 that I know of in all of western Washington State. Learning how to find such people is a valuable skill.
AdeV:
--- Quote from: Lew_Merrick_PE on September 04, 2010, 02:30:39 AM ---
If you had bothered to read my post, first I suggested truck/trailer repair shops and then magician caliber welders. Such people exist. There are tasks appropriate to such skills. As I have no idea what Eric's needs are (beyond the short listing), I wanted to be sure to cover all bases.
Someone who can weld a 14 inch diameter thin-wall 316 stainless arbor with less than .0015 total distortion qualifies as a magician rather than a welder. Such people lie not too heavily upon the ground. As I said, there are only 7 that I know of in all of western Washington State. Learning how to find such people is a valuable skill.
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I concur: I know a chap who can oxy-acetelyne weld aluminium; basically because no-one told him you can't do that, he went ahead and learned anyway.
Lew_Merrick_PE:
--- Quote from: AdeV on September 04, 2010, 05:59:30 AM ---I concur: I know a chap who can oxy-acetelyne weld aluminium; basically because no-one told him you can't do that, he went ahead and learned anyway.
--- End quote ---
Ade, One of the guys I worked with regularly (1972-1994) is the guy (Denny Andersen) who welded (he retired in 1996) rocket nozzles for NASA. Rhenium to Waspalloy? Not a problem (for Denny). He would drive metallurgists out of what was left of their minds regularly. The chemistry said, "This can't be done." -- and Denny would not only do it, but the joint would pass a full micro-crystallographic analysis with flying colors leaving multiple-PhD's shaking their heads in wonder. This is art, not science.
Denny's "secret" (which he tried to share with everyone) is managing your heat. I understand that intellectually, but cannot duplicate even the more common welds myself -- or, as Denny always told me, "There's nothing wrong with your welding that 5000 hours of practice won't cure." This is why when people ask me if I can weld, my answer is, "I can melt metal, I can run a bead, but I am not a welder!"
I know another six magician class welders in western Washington State. I have run into another 80-100 in other places over the past four decades. Such people leave me in awe of their craft skills.
Brass_Machine:
I once knew a welder in Georgia somewhere that did an amazing job with just about everything he welded. Was told he could weld Aluminum to water... almost believable with his work. I guess what Lew is saying something like this Magician = Master.
Most welders who do motorcycle frames do steel chopper/harley frames. I called a couple of shops and got the run "we don't weld on aluminum frames" I know there a few out there who do sportbike stuff. Wish I was in the UK, they have a bunch of people I would take it to. I am sure if I go down to the local welder, someone there can do it. I am looking for perfection. Whoever does it, doesn't have to be familiar with bikes... just a perfectionist.
Was hoping someone might know somebody local to me that I would trust. My friend on a race team says he has someone who can do it...
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