Aluminium welding rods

Cee-Jay-Cee

Has anyone used these rods (duralite etc) ? They’re on eBay for about £15 for 5 rods and I already have a propane torch which is needed to heat the surfaces to be welded?

Now onto my query? I have a stainless steel exhaust which someone butchered at the flange and welded it back up again with a stick welder. It’s not gas tight and I have cleaned back all the welds with an angle grinder and flap wheel and can see a few tiny holes. I don’t have a tig welder to do a nice neat job on it and I don’t want to use the cheap stick welder I have so wondered if the aluminium welding rods would work in sealing the holes or will the aluminium simply not stick to the steel? It does say they can’t be used on SS but doesn’t say why however I have watched videos where people have welded aluminium and steel together using them.

For the sake of 15quid I might just try them and if it doesn’t work I’ll bring it somewhere to get done properly but would love to be able to do it myself.

mickdw

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

Has anyone used these rods (duralite etc) ? They’re on eBay for about £15 for 5 rods and I already have a propane torch which is needed to heat the surfaces to be welded?

Now onto my query? I have a stainless steel exhaust which someone butchered at the flange and welded it back up again with a stick welder. It’s not gas tight and I have cleaned back all the welds with an angle grinder and flap wheel and can see a few tiny holes. I don’t have a tig welder to do a nice neat job on it and I don’t want to use the cheap stick welder I have so wondered if the aluminium welding rods would work in sealing the holes or will the aluminium simply not stick to the steel? It does say they can’t be used on SS but doesn’t say why however I have watched videos where people have welded aluminium and steel together using them.

For the sake of 15quid I might just try them and if it doesn’t work I’ll bring it somewhere to get done properly but would love to be able to do it myself.

I cant see how aluminium rods could be used on steel.
Would a mig with stainless wire do the job?

Cee-Jay-Cee

mickdw wrote: »

I cant see how aluminium rods could be used on steel.
Would a mig with stainless wire do the job?

I only need to patch a few small holes in the crappy welded joint. It’ll have no structural strength.

I simply need to know if the aluminium will stick to the stainless steel/welded bead already on the exhaust?

spiggotpaddy

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

I only need to patch a few small holes in the crappy welded joint. It’ll have no structural strength.

A bit of gun gum or similar.

mickdw

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

I only need to patch a few small holes in the crappy welded joint. It’ll have no structural strength.

I simply need to know if the aluminium will stick to the stainless steel/welded bead already on the exhaust?

I dont think it will work at all. Different temperatures etc. Id say you will melt the alu rod into the steel and it will just drop off as it cools.

Cee-Jay-Cee

mickdw wrote: »

I dont think it will work at all. Different temperatures etc. Id say you will melt the alu rod into the steel and it will just drop off as it cools.

Yeah that’s my worry. I think I’ll try it anyway and if it fails well then I’ll know and I’ll just get someone with a TIG welder to seal the holes.

Gen.Zhukov

Just use the stick welder with a s/s electrode. If you're welding on top of an existing bead, there should be no issue with blowing a hole in it.

Dirty Nails

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

I only need to patch a few small holes in the crappy welded joint. It’ll have no structural strength.

I simply need to know if the aluminium will stick to the stainless steel/welded bead already on the exhaust?

The simple answer is no,it won't.
Aluminium is a non ferrous metal.
Mig,Tig or rod. Mild steel wire or rod,it doesn't have to be stainless steel

CJhaughey

Those rods are mainly Zinc not Aluminium.
They won't work on steel.

doctorchopper

If you want to use a gas torch you could et brazing rods