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More from Frank Armao
- From The Welder
Aluminum Workshop: Weldable and unweldable aluminum alloys
- By Frank Armao
- May 11, 2011
- Aluminum Welding
- Article
Q: I want to weld on some 7075 aluminum, but I can't find a recommended filler metal for it. Can you tell me the correct filler metal to use? In a word, no. The reason you can't find a recommended filler metal for 7075 is that it is usually considered to be unweldable with arc welding. No one,...
- From The Welder
Aluminum Workshop: Achieving T6 designation for 6061
- By Frank Armao
- Mar 14, 2011
- Aluminum Welding
- Article
Heat treating aluminum requires steps to produce 6061-T6. Learn more about 6061 t6 heat treatment from the experts at FMA.
- From The Welder
Aluminum Workshop: How to age aluminum when welding in T6
- By Frank Armao
- Mar 24, 2009
- Aluminum Welding
- Article
Want to learn how to age aluminum? The experts at FMA explain the aging process and how it impacts the strength of aluminum.
- From The Welder
Aluminum Workshop: Preventing porosity in humid environments
- By Frank Armao
- Mar 11, 2008
- Aluminum Welding
- Article
Q: I'm having problems with excessive porosity when TIG welding aluminum. My friend says it comes from water vapor in the air (it's very humid here) being broken down by the arc. Is this true? It sounds pretty far-fetched.A: I hope you didn't bet on this one. If you did, get ready to pay up. All...
- From The Welder
Aluminum Workshop: Eliminating fine shavings from 5356 wire
- By Frank Armao
- Jan 15, 2008
- Aluminum Welding
- Article
Q: I've been using my welding equipment to weld aluminum with 4043 filler for a long time without problems. Now that I have a project that requires me to use 5356 filler, I'm having problems with fine shavings that come off of this particular wire. Eventually they clog the torch liner so that the...
- From The Welder
Aluminum Workshop: Minimizing weld cleaning stripes
- By Frank Armao
- Sep 11, 2007
- Aluminum Welding
- Article
Q:I'm fabricating toolboxes for pickup trucks using gas metal arc welding (GMAW) and polished aluminum tread plate. The cleaning stripes along each side of the weld are wide and detract from the appearance of the toolbox. Please don't tell me to wire-brush the weld because this stands out even...
- From The Welder
Aluminum Workshop: To weld or not to weld Alclad
- By Frank Armao
- Jul 10, 2007
- Aluminum Welding
- Article
Q: I have some aluminum sheet that I would like to use to fabricate a project. The only marking on it is "Alclad." Other than that, I have no idea what alloy it is. Can you tell me what filler metal to use to weld it?A: Whether you realize it or not, you have seen Alclad sheet hundreds of times....
- From The Welder
Aluminum Workshop: Filler wire for 5454 Aluminum plate
- By Frank Armao
- May 8, 2007
- Aluminum Welding
- Article
Our experts answer a question about a fabrication project involving 5454 aluminum plate and what filler wire to use with 5454 aluminum.
- From The Welder
Aluminum Workshop: The best filler wire for welding 6061-T6 aluminum
- By Frank Armao
- Oct 3, 2006
- Aluminum Welding
- Article
Q: Which filler wire is best for welding 6061-T6 aluminum, 5356 or 4043?A: Both are acceptable for welding 6061-T6, but each has advantages and disadvantages depending on the application. An aluminum alloy containing 5 percent magnesium, 5356 generally is stronger and more ductile than 4043. But...
- From The Welder
Aluminum Workshop: Choosing a MIG welder for aluminum
- By Frank Armao
- Sep 25, 2003
- Aluminum Welding
- Article
This Q&A with FMA's experts addresses how to choose the best MIG welder for aluminum if you are planning on welding occasionally. Learn more here.
- From The Welder
Aluminum Workshop: Inverter versus transformer power supplies for aluminum GTAW
- By Frank Armao
- Aug 28, 2003
- Aluminum Welding
- Article
Q: I'm looking for a new GTAW power supply for AC aluminum welding. I had intended to buy a conventional transformer unit, but several people have told me to buy an inverter-based power supply. Which one is better for my application? A: Inverter-based power supplies do have some advantages over...
- From The Fabricator
Weld Inverter: Aluminum welds with inverter-based power supplies
- By Frank Armao
- Jul 24, 2003
- Aluminum Welding
- Article
Welding power supplies are changing constantly and rapidly, especially in the area of inverter technology. Learn more about weld inverters here.
- From The Welder
Aluminum Workshop: Al MIG: CC or CV?
- By Frank Armao
- Jun 12, 2003
- Aluminum Welding
- Article
Q: I've read that constant-current (CC) power supplies are preferred for gas metal arc welding (GMAW) aluminum, but when I visit companies that sell welding equipment, they tell me I want a constant-voltage (CV) power supply. What's the real story? Can I use the more common CV power supplies or...
- From The Welder
Aluminum Workshop: How to recognize and minimize aluminum smut
- By Frank Armao
- Apr 10, 2003
- Aluminum Welding
- Article
The experts at FMA answer a question about how to recognize and minimize weld smut that occurs when welding aluminum. Learn more about aluminum smut here.
- From The Welder
Aluminum Workshop: Choosing tungsten electrode type, size for aluminum TIG
- By Frank Armao
- Feb 27, 2003
- Aluminum Welding
- Article
Which size and type of tungsten electrode should you use to gas tungsten arc weld (GTAW) aluminum? Learn more.
- Podcasting
- Podcast:
- The Fabricator Podcast
- Published:
- 04/30/2024
- Running Time:
- 53:00
Seth Feldman of Iowa-based Wertzbaugher Services joins The Fabricator Podcast to offer his take as a Gen Zer...
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- Upcoming Webcasts
Navigating Change: The Manufacturer’s Guide to Change Management with ERP Implementation
- May 16, 2024
- Sponsored
- Presented By: ECI Software Solutions, M1
Managing Dangerous Dusts from Metalworking
- June 26, 2024
- Sponsored
- Presented By: Camfil Air Pollution Control