While Qtys last, get a hog tee shirt and a tig finger for around 23 bones
4643 Aluminum Tig rod is designed to respond to heat treatment.
Heat treating 6061 aluminum in the 250-400f range for between 1 -4 hours creates a stronger microstructure.
Its called age hardening.
6061 t6 aluminum is solution heat treated…then artificially aged.
When you weld aluminum, the heat from welding raises a certain area next to the weld to a point where it loses the heat treated effect….this area is called the heat affected zone (HAZ).
this heat affected zone can be a lot softer and weaker than the unaffected base metal…so sometimes the part is heat treated after welding to restore strength.
Do you use aluminum cleaning solutions prior to welding?
Do you use a gas lens for tig welding aluminum?
September 10, 2015 at 11:15 AM
Excellent video and explanation. I too use more stick out for those types of joints, or welding in the ditch as I like to call it. Those slip fittings are some of the most fun to weld. Also, setting up structural butts like that when one can, does a lot to help mitigate the heat affected zone.
Nice work, and thank you for the video.