Has anyone used O/A and a torch to do minor boat work? Like add pods or weld on a grab bar etc? It seems like it would be viable but from what I've seen on here most people use a TIG welder. Just curious if this would work as it's much cheaper than a TIG.

Use a mig welder on aluminum. Tig works, but u get a more brittle weld. U can also use stick rods if u aren't concerned wif the way it looks. Never heard of O/A welding aluminum.

You cannot do it oxy welding adds carbon from the flame and would cause bad things to the aluminum. Don't try it you will regret it. Get ya a small tig.

I am welder by trade Tig is the only way to go. It is alot stronger is way cleaner than stick. You can use a Mig you need a spool gun. The wire is to solft to go through the lead.

Every boat builder I know of builds boat with mig. Tig welds are much harder and more brittle. There is a reason why Gravois, Hankos, Scully, and J use mig guns.

Tried it with my lil creek/pond boat. Ruint it. Had to cut aluminum pieces out of stock and welded with a mig. Been holding up great. Tig will work but as previously stated very brittle

I was talking about something like in this YouTube video
http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri= ... F1Srs_e1Aw
It claims the welds are really strong but I gueess I can see how it would be difficult with a boat.

tig is a better weld reason is u control the heat the area and the filler , but it takes a long time ,
boat builders use a mig for production it is way faster and less costly ,

Anyone here ever heard of pulse arc? Used to control heat issues with mig welding. Not needed wif boats due to the ice cream(cold) setting that is used on most boats.
Wut factory boats have the bottoms Tig welded? It's a recipe for disaster.

We have miller pulse welders at work but thats 4 steel dont know how it would work on aluminum. It helps reduce splatter an controls arc length.

Welding with a Mig and a Tig are the same concept. You are welding with aluminum wire with both. They both use argon and the only way that a Tig would get brittle is if the boat aluminum is old or you are using the wrong wire like T5 or 6 but I dout that. Most people build with because they are faster thats the only reason. If the aluminum is old mig or Tig it will have a weak weld.

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X2

Tig is by far superior on almost any metal being welded.[/quote]


Tig also makes for a better looking weld.

do a lot of research before u start messing up a nice rig, u will if u dont know what ur doin

"Do you weld alum for a job or are you just repeating what you were told? Tig is way more precise it does not have anywhere near the porosity of a mig weld. If mig is so much stronger then why are all the anodized alum t-tops, leaning post, and cooler racks tiged out? The reason the pulse mig works well is b/c is lessen the actual heat on the weld area. Which lessens warpage. The only reason all boat mfg use mig is b/c of speed. We have the xr gun at my shop and it just boils down to speed.

I have a buddy that builds all kinds of specalized parts for off shore oil. When they need a very precise part Guess what it is tiged out." quote from texshockwave

well put james
x2

those 350 P's are the shit youre right but dont let that smart machine think it knows everything. There are plenty of times you really need to adust the stickout and other perameters to get the best bead.

A good looking bead doesnt always mean a quality weld.

oh and whoever you are that said dont use TIG on aluminum...you're a dumbass

Man...I was really looking forward to the "after" pictures if this was attempted. Thanks a lot guys.