ARC Magazine Master Class: Avoiding Cracking When Welding 6061 Aluminum

[@6061]

The moral of this story: If you don't bevel your butt joints, you'll need to add more filler rod and your weld will be humped up higher (which doesn't look as professional). Very informative video.

[@tommygossett]

Very informative. Other videos only seem to mention aluminum cracking, but this explained why.

[@madmax4610]

Karl.... You da man!!! Looking forward to another class with you as its Instructor... I love my SquareWave 200 that I picked up at SEMA... Love that machine, so easy to work with...

[@tomherd4179]

I have to fully agree with you. I just did a butt weld without a bevel and promptly received a crack.

[@pidgeiam4979]

Interesting Carl I enjoyed all of it, thanks man. -Pidge

[@workwillfreeyou]

Another great post Karl. Thank you very much. I always very much enjoy and appreciate your posts. A question if you could. What filler wire would you use for a dirty motorcycle casting ( Aluminum ? ).

[@5thStreetFab]

workwillfreeyou 4943 is my go to for cast super smooth I've heard 4743 is a good choice for cast but never tried. If you can't find them then 4043 is fine.

[@billbraski2175]

love my luvoln 200 square wave but the non adjustable 17 second post flow is something incantation stand.

[@jstrunck]

Thanks for posting!

[@reedsfab3828]

Great video

[@OysterP]

160 amps to weld 1/16, hmmm id weld that with 90amps max..

[@softiss]

i dont think it would crack if u would weld it with 5356. maybe weld it with both would be cool. since u said u could weld with both.

[@6061]

Yep, 5356 is less prone to cracking (at least in my experience/comparisons).

[@softiss]

i got a mail saying that i got a reply. but its nothing here. ? saying 6061. com Yep, 5356 is less prone to cracking (at least in my experience/comparisons).

[@6061]

The comment was probably removed, not sure why.

[@softiss]

its back now:) love your vids 6061. but u have ut comments off :)

[@Okie-Tom]

I have an old cast aluminum wing off an old table saw. It is about 15 inches wide and 33 inches long. It has webs cast all around the perimeter and across the bottom. The top is about 1/16 to 1/8 thick. This wing was broken all across the width. I have no idea what type of aluminum it is. I attempted to weld it with TIG and some filler rod I have. Well it would always crack right where I had the weld. One place I put much more filler material for a couple inches. It didn't crack in the weld, but right next to the weld. Frustrating to say the least. Does anyone with experience welding something like this have any ideas? I would sure appreciate the help! Tom

[@adimeshort]

Great video