welding crack in aluminum

[demco99]

Hey guys - looking for reccomendations on how to fix a growing crack in the aluminum crossbar that is part of the frame for my T-Top.. I've heard welding aluminum is very tricky and have asked several friends who are welders who have all told me they don't have the equipment to do it. Anyone got a guy in the lower mainland? Sculpin you seem to be a master welder - thoughts? Picture of the crack in the link below.. there is a smaller but similar one on the other end of the bar.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/95555777@N05/8748099944/in/photostream

cheers guys thanks for any help!

 

[staying alive]

You'll need a good welder who can do tig welding. Cracked mine in the same place as yours last year by driving like an idiot .
Got my welder to put some gussets in there to help brace It from the side to side stresses.
Seems good now and I drive slower when it's snotty.will see if I can send a pic

 

[Firstlight]

Call Ted..604.329.0764 Very good and reasonable. Did a bunch of work for me. Tell him Mike sent you.

 

[Seafever]

Welding thin aluminum gets trickier the thinner the aluminum......but with aluminum it's all about the right heat, I was told by my brother-in-law who welded for Lockheed.

 

[demco99]

Call Ted..604.329.0764 Very good and reasonable. Did a bunch of work for me. Tell him Mike sent you.

thanks firstlight I'll give him a call..

 

[demco99]

You'll need a good welder who can do tig welding. Cracked mine in the same place as yours last year by driving like an idiot .
Got my welder to put some gussets in there to help brace It from the side to side stresses.
Seems good now and I drive slower when it's snotty.will see if I can send a pic

gussets sounds good to beef it up a bit. Who is your welder? thanks

 

[trophywife]

Poco marine.. Pierre is an awesome welder

 

[staying alive]

Dave's custom metal in poco

 

[staying alive]

Here's what I did

 

[Gunsmith]

My quick thought is that piece of aluminum is hooped. Looks like it was over heated and lacked shielding gas, my thought is you wil not get a reliable weld over that. The tube should be cut out and replaced.

 

[Sculpin]

That is a bad spot for a crack but the obvious place for one to occur. The discoloration is from the anodizing. I think you will have to have a gusset put in there. Do the other side at the same time so it looks good lol. A one gusset crossbar looks hillbilly for sure......unless that's what your after lol. Good luck with it.

 

[demco99]

That is a bad spot for a crack but the obvious place for one to occur. The discoloration is from the anodizing. I think you will have to have a gusset put in there. Do the other side at the same time so it looks good lol. A one gusset crossbar looks hillbilly for sure......unless that's what your after lol. Good luck with it.

Come to Vancouver my man, you can touch it up and add gussets while I watch-the-rod-tips/steer-the-vessel and instruct Pippen on which 70's love ballads to-put-on-the-Clarion-to-turn-on-the-bite.. ("Bread -Everything I own" is one of his favourites)!

 

[Jetboater]

Kieth from primus metalcraft in chilliwack is a great tig/ mig welder he works for a lot of the big boat shops in the valley... his # is 604-793-2686 give him a call he will send you picks of his work and it is fine.

 

[demco99]

Kieth from primus metalcraft in chilliwack is a great tig/ mig welder he works for a lot of the big boat shops in the valley... his # is 604-793-2686 give him a call he will send you picks of his work and it is fine.

great first post, thanks jet boater, I'll be in contact with him..