How thick of alu is your boat made of
Brazing rod for boat holes
So I am curious if anyone has used aluminum brazing rod to repair a hole on an aluminum boat? I have seen numerous people do it on YouTube just seeing if anyone has experience with it and how long it will last? I have looked up as much as possible I know the alloy you fill with is harder than aluminum so durability in itself shouldn't be an issue just curious how well it bonds to the actual boat thanks
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Website says .053"
I used one from Harbor Freight at the beginning of the season for about a dime size hole I had on the bottom of my 14' Jon boat. It hasn't leaked at all since I've done it and had it out pretty much every weekend since the beginning of the season. I used a propane torch to melt it in place, just make sure you clean the area really good with a wore brush as it won't stick to any crud that is on the aluminum and also be careful not to melt the boat itself.
Man... that's some mighty thin aluminum to try "Brazing". Do you really mean brazing with an aluminum rod or some type of composite? Real brazing with a torch is really hard to control the heat... a Professional would use a TIG welder and even then he better be pretty **** good at it to pull it off (I had a guy in provo weld up a crack in a truck AC condenser once... it worked! he had mad skillz!!).
How big is the hole? I'd really try some kind of epoxy if its not big / or structural crack. If it is big or structural, I'd look for a pro welder to do it. If it where thicker aluminum you could just MIG weld it... but thin aluminum is a royal PITA to work with.
I own 4 welders and for fine aluminum work I still go to someone else.
This might be an option (maybe this is what Nate is referring to):
http://www.cabelas.com/product/CABELAS-ALUMINUM-BOAT-PATCH/533864.uts
-DallanC
How big is the hole? I'd really try some kind of epoxy if its not big / or structural crack. If it is big or structural, I'd look for a pro welder to do it. If it where thicker aluminum you could just MIG weld it... but thin aluminum is a royal PITA to work with.
I own 4 welders and for fine aluminum work I still go to someone else.
This might be an option (maybe this is what Nate is referring to):
http://www.cabelas.com/product/CABELAS-ALUMINUM-BOAT-PATCH/533864.uts
-DallanC
His is what I'm referring to and it sounds like he is to
http://m.homedepot.com/p/Bernzomatic-AL3-Aluminum-Brazing-and-Welding-Rods-334491/203710179
Seems pretty simple really low melting point only 700 degrees I know it's thin I weld as well just won't mess with aluminum always hated the stuff.
http://m.homedepot.com/p/Bernzomatic-AL3-Aluminum-Brazing-and-Welding-Rods-334491/203710179
Seems pretty simple really low melting point only 700 degrees I know it's thin I weld as well just won't mess with aluminum always hated the stuff.
Was it the alumaloy?I used one from Harbor Freight at the beginning of the season for about a dime size hole I had on the bottom of my 14' Jon boat. It hasn't leaked at all since I've done it and had it out pretty much every weekend since the beginning of the season. I used a propane torch to melt it in place, just make sure you clean the area really good with a wore brush as it won't stick to any crud that is on the aluminum and also be careful not to melt the boat itself.
As a long-time aluminum welder with both tig and mig, I'm interested in how this turns out. I have looked into this but have never tried it. I can't imagine it turning out better than tig against a copper or ceramic backing plate and argon backflush.
If it melts at 700 and aluminum melts at 1200, it might just work. Let us know how it turns out.
If it melts at 700 and aluminum melts at 1200, it might just work. Let us know how it turns out.
SEE what I mean about the Professional's? Haha Longbow sounds like he can weld beer cans together. :mrgreen:I can't imagine it turning out better than tig against a copper or ceramic backing plate and argon backflush.
-DallanC
When I worked a ICON Health and Fitness in Logan, I had a Native American gal show me that. She cut a can in half, put the halves end to end and welded it together. I was impressed! Suddenly I felt like a crappy welder.SEE what I mean about the Professional's? Haha Longbow sounds like he can weld beer cans together. :mrgreen:
-DallanC
After worked very well it was simple and took 15 mins the angled parts were a bit tougher but it worked great and I filled it with water after no leaks at all now I will see how well it holds up over time
View attachment 73961
View attachment 73961
Looks like you got it.
Looks good! Did you use the Bernzomatic AL3?
Splash zone: http://www.pettitpaint.com/product.asp?id=191
Yes I didLooks good! Did you use the Bernzomatic AL3?
On the front of my boat where the winch strap hooks, it has caused the backside of the decking to crack. I wonder if this stuff would work to fix that. It does get flex when winching the boat on the trailer. For $4 I may just try it.
Use TIG with 5356 filler rod. Mini torch with a 1/16" balled tungsten, Square Wave if you got it.
Don't sand or grind-prep the metal until right before you weld it. (Aluminum oxidizes very very quickly)
I'd like ta have a nickel for every aluminum boat I welded on.
That crack wasn't too bad. You could have used an epoxy stick on it too. Looks like you got it though. Good luck.
Don't sand or grind-prep the metal until right before you weld it. (Aluminum oxidizes very very quickly)
I'd like ta have a nickel for every aluminum boat I welded on.
That crack wasn't too bad. You could have used an epoxy stick on it too. Looks like you got it though. Good luck.
Well I have taken the boat out twice since the repair and it holds up great no leak at all even after running Sunday night the water was choppy as I have ever driven in with the wind and it got pounded pretty hard but no issues at all
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