My best welding so far... Aluminum... Pic

[CGCINC]

I've been welding Aluminum for the last few weeks in night school and I'm finally feeling "comfortable" while welding it. My inside corner welds are getting better but I still need some time with those.
This box was welded with my Everlast 250EX 30 mins. ago...

[redbeard]

Thats purdy, I hope I can get that good. How thick was the stock?

[CGCINC]

11 gauge (1/8")

I've been welding for about 3 weeks on Aluminum 3 nights a week. I've got about 20 hours in practice at school and maybe 3 hours or so on my 250EX

[parkour]

That looks nice. Is it air tight?
The one time I tried to weld something air tight... it didn't work well.

[CGCINC]

yes. You just gotta go slow at the last open area because of the pressure inside it. First time I did one of these it was like "Kapooof!" Blew out a big hole and made a mess.....I learned on that one!

[DVA]

Nice weld, that is a consistent bead for a free-hand weld.

[CGCINC]

Thanks! That's what I'm wanting/trying for, a nice consistent weld bead.
I went to Tractor Supply the other day and they are selling Aluminum truck tool boxes for cheap.... The weld, Honestly, looked like someone just held the torch close, moved it along and melted the two halves together. Didn't look good at all.

[acourtjester]

Like you said cheap.
When you pay peanuts you get monkeys.
Good welders don’t come cheap

[geezer]

Thanks! That's what I'm wanting/trying for, a nice consistent weld bead.
I went to Tractor Supply the other day and they are selling Aluminum truck tool boxes for cheap.... The weld, Honestly, looked like someone just held the torch close, moved it along and melted the two halves together. Didn't look good at all.

Nice welds on your box, the truck boxes were probably mig welded not too many fab guys would use tig on such items.

[Steve]

Thanks! That's what I'm wanting/trying for, a nice consistent weld bead.
I went to Tractor Supply the other day and they are selling Aluminum truck tool boxes for cheap.... The weld, Honestly, looked like someone just held the torch close, moved it along and melted the two halves together. Didn't look good at all.

Those boxes are mig welded. The welds are often sloppy but they do hold the boxes together.

[CGCINC]

Those boxes are mig welded. The welds are often sloppy but they do hold the boxes together.

The box I looked at was not Mig, Tig or Stick welded, it was melted with a torch, lol.... I've Mig'd Alum. with a spool gun at class and I still had the "bead" look after welding so it must have been the guys first day on the job!
I guess you would need to Mig it when in production, Tig would take forever for one of them.

[m j mauer]

Verry nice.

Regards: M J Mauer, Andover, Ohio

[sportbike]

yes. You just gotta go slow at the last open area because of the pressure inside it. First time I did one of these it was like "Kapooof!" Blew out a big hole and made a mess.....I learned on that one!

Welds look great! Nice work.

One tip that usually works on a sealed weld is to actually weld 75% of the box, then drill a `1/8" hols in the corner of one of the completed welds to act as a vent. finish up all of the welds, then let the item cool. Go back and fill the hole. The cool box and cool air tends to take a little time to expand and doesn't build as much pressure as quickly. Depending on the size of the part, sometimes this does no work due to the part heating very rapidly and the air expanding very quickly anyway. Could probably also just leave a 1/4" or so at the end of one of the welds, let it cool and come back to save on drilling / filling.