Aluminium Welding - closer to Edinburgh the better!

[joeytalent]

Now then,

I have made myself a set of flanges like so:



And would like to get them welded onto the manifold, like this:



The end product will hopefully be this:



The flanges are 8mm aluminium, the manifold is cast aluminium. I've also skimmed the mounting faces of the manifold, so the flanges sit flush against it. I'll make up a jig to hold the flanges in the appropriate positions, so they can be tacked on easily - the only problem is I can't find anywhere to do it (I suspect this is down to me trying to describe the problem over the phone - I'll try some places in person when I have more free time).

If anyone has any recommendations of where to try, or even the skills / equipment to do it themselves, I would massively grateful.

Cheers,
Joey

[bobblegut]

Your jig will need to act as a heatsoak and to stop any distortion in the flanges [ probably wont get any because they are thick , but better safe than sorry ] .

[joeytalent]

Jul 14, 2014 11:42:22 GMT bobblegut said:

Your jig will need to act as a heatsoak and to stop any distortion in the flanges [ probably wont get any because they are thick , but better safe than sorry ] .

What material would you recommend for it? I was just going to use another bit of aluminium bar, probably 8mm again.

[bobblegut]

I would use a piece of flat steel bar , you can get it in various sizes . Not sure what sizes it comes in but 3" by 12mm or something . If you have a trawl round your local industrial estate and ask at some fabrication places they might let you have a bit for a donation to the teat and biscuit fund. I would use steel rather than alu for the ridigity . I'm only saying this because i made stuff like this before but had a giant belt linisher to skim all the flanges at once to make sure they were flat .

Perhaps if you get someone to do it they can knock a plate up before they weld it [ they should as a precaution anyway ].

[joeytalent]

Ah got you - I was going to skim the flanges on the milling machine after they'd been welded anyway.

I can see a fun filled weekend of going round some industrial estates!

[Battles]

I've texted a couple of guys locally to see if they know anywhere.

[joeytalent]

Jul 14, 2014 20:13:52 GMT Battles said:

I've texted a couple of guys locally to see if they know anywhere.

You're an absolute gent - I don't think it would take someone with access to a TIG welder that long to do at all. I'll obviously pay for time / materials in money / banter / beer / tea etc.

Or, if anyone wants to try a MIG on it, I'm happy to get a couple of small bottles of Argon and some aluminium wire. I'd have a bash myself with my landlord's MIG, but I seriously doubt my abilities.

[Battles]

joeytalent: PM me your number. A pal says he'll pass your number to a bloke he knows in N.Queensferry who might do this as a homer. Sounds like an old bloke who still works part time for an engineering firm in Fife.

[joeytalent]

Well in the end I found a guy called Originiall Fabrication, out at Wallyford. Good price, great guy and excellent quality. Will attach some pictures of the goods when I get an evening to fit them. Would happily recommend him for any fabrication work!

Edit: The chap's Facebook page is here: www.facebook.com/originfab - just in case anyone else is looking.

[bobblegut]

Great , glad you found someone