[Healeys] Shroud Welding

[richard mayor]

I have to wade in here. I have a front shroud issue that will require
welding-in some new panels. I can't believe that you cannot get the "old
English aluminum" clean enough to produce good clean welds. No one welds when
something is dirty with paint and bondo. You remove the paint and bondo, using
either - or both  - chemical and mechanical means, then use an appropriate
chemical prep to ensure no contaminates are present. Am I wrong here? I
wellcome input from the list. I could be wrong, but right now I do not believe
in "magic" flux.  Richard Mayor (the guy that lost his brakes and hit the wall
at the Portland Historics and wiped out his front shroud)> From:
frogeye at porterscustom.com> To: rotaryman at cox.net; healeys at autox.team.net>
Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 07:51:10 -0700> Subject: Re: [Healeys] Shroud Welding> >
Patrick,> Apparently neither you nor the CA. class has tried to TIG a Healey
shroud.> It will splatter some, trust me. You won't find a suitable filler for
that> old English aluminum. The stuff is dirty with paint and bondo and who
knows> what. TIG likes clean, like new. The key is the flux. I posted a source
last> night (Muggyweld) and his rod works well as a filler for the Birmabrite
AL> used on Healeys.> DP> > > frogeye at porterscustom.com> > Porter Customs>
Albuquerque, NM USA 87107> 505-352-1378> 1954 BN2> Porter Custom Bicycles>
www.britishcarforum.com/portercustoms.html> > > -----Original Message----->
From: healeys-bounces+frogeye=porterscustom.com at autox.team.net>
[mailto:healeys-bounces+frogeye=porterscustom.com at autox.team.net] On Behalf>
Of patrick harris> Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2008 9:25 PM> To:
healeys at autox.team.net> Subject: Re: [Healeys] Shroud Welding> > I have been
taking a rop class for adults in california in which we have > access to the
many types of welders. The original austin healeys I believe > were welded
with a tig type arrangement. Although mig is now perfectly > capable of
matching the alloys etc in the shrouds, it typically is used > because it is
easier to master, but originally was invented for industry > because it was
quicker and more productive. Having played with tig I prefer> > it over mig
for precision and beauty of weld. Tig is basically like a > easily controlled
gas weld and produces a beautiful bead which is easily > manipulated and
allows fixing if you make a mistake or blow a hole by simply> > letting up on
the pedal and reducing the heat > > No virus found in this outgoing message.>
Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database:
269.19.20/1262 - Release Date: 2/6/2008> 9:13 AM
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