Dura Fix
 

I was looking for a way to weld aluminum charge pipes w/o tig and I found this product.
Anybody tried this stuff?
http://durafix.com/demo/256.html
their videos look convincing... no need for tig they're affordable too...

Re: Dura Fix
 

Impressive video, I'm still trying to find out what the catch is.

Re: Dura Fix
 

the catch is it isn't as strong as normal alumnium, and thats called brazing.

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Did you see them punch a hole and drill on it, weld a t and bend the plate w/o braking the weld?

Re: Dura Fix
 

hmm.. looks like brazing to me.

I'd like to know the composition of those rods.

Re: Dura Fix
 

They have the meatal properties on thier homepage

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it looks cool might try it for the hell of it. the only thing is when you order it is retarded... 1 stainles bruch and17 to 26 rods....wtf is that, you say that ---- and then send 17 to everyone...... maby his redneck himbilly ass just cant cout...idk....stilll going to give it a shot

Re: Dura Fix
 

here's a review
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.s...yant.webtv.net

Re: Dura Fix
 

A had some form a company called Alumaloy, Harbor Freight also has it and it is cheaper there. It will work.kinda. But don't think you are going to get it to melt and stick to anything with a propane torch, I did get it to semi stick using a small map gas setup. But it the part has any size to it you are going to need a full on torch setup to get it to work.
I ended up giving mine away. lol Tried to sell it on here for a few bucks but nobody wanted it. lol
http://www.eville140.com/alumaloy.jpg

Later
Randy

Re: Dura Fix
 

I thought the video was very impressive and the process definately seems easy enough. I would love to try it first hand just see how well it actually works. The speed at which you can unify two metals is just amazing. However the one downfall i noticed was it appeared to leave a lot of small pourous cracks that could potentially leak and expand. Being that all the aluminum we weld is for water or air to pass through, the importance of a complete seal is just as important as the strength of holding the two pieces of metal together. Also, im just curious what the inside of the hole or crack you are sealing looks like after using that.

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It gave a quick shot in the video on the aluminum can

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/7422/alumvx0.jpg

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yea, i watched it again after your post.
Thanks jago, i also noticed he said it wont drip inside whatever your welding.

Re: Dura Fix
 

I still wouldnt waste my time or money on that. With a tig machine you can weld SS, magnisium, aluminium, titanium, MS, HCS. You could buy a torch set up and only be able to braze, ofc, and 'Durafix'. That still leaves you with your dick in your hand when you want to weld titanium, SS, and magnisium.

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Right, but this is for people who don't have the money to buy an AL capable welder or just don't have the skill.

Given, this is just like an infomercial and this man has skills which probably make it look easier than it is, but it still looks like a cheaper alternative.

Someone tell me what's wrong with this ----! This video is awesome.

Re: Dura Fix
 

Considering all i use aluminum for is bov flanges little ---- here and there it might be a decent alternative if you have oxy/acyteline torch set.AC tigs are not cheap and having a DC Tig like a Smiley along with that for the odd time you have aluminum might be handy.

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Not to be a dick but whats the point of buying something that cant tig ac/dc?

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Well i can buy a smiley with a plasma cutter and a DC only tig for $500 or I can buy a AC/DC tig starting at $1500 and never use the AC function except once in a blue moon and still not have a plasma.

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Ah. I only have Lincolns

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I have used these alumaloy rods for work...mostly used for brazing copper high-pressure lines for home heating/cooling systems. The rod is funky to work with until you get the hang of it, and you do need a decent torch to do it right, at the very least a plumber's torch setup with the acetalyne mix. Downfall seems to be if there is any impurities in the joining metals, it doesn't like to take to it very well. If it's any indiction of how good the rod is, we've switched over to a nicaloy rod...some kind of nickel alloy mix, seems to work better in our line of work, although requires a bit more heat to melt.

Re: Dura Fix
 

Wouldnt silver/tin alloy work? Nickel isnt cheap, but its alot stronger.

Re: Dura Fix
 

I've tried it with Propane, Brazing Fluid and Oxy/Acetalyne ans the first 2 would touch it, Oxy/Ace, was hard not to heat it too much and burn the materials. Work, but not nice.

Remeber the guy in the video has 100's of hour of practice and 100's of video take to get it right for the good shot.

Re: Dura Fix
 

Yup. what size and type oxy/ace tip were you using? rosebud?

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ive seen the aulmaloy on tv and in person, its tricky, but its a decent tool for quick fixes here and there. not sure i would put it in situations where my life was on the line and such...

Re: Dura Fix
 

ive used the aluminum brazing ----, and it's fairly good (hobart rods though) but prepping is extremely important. roughing the edges makes a nice difference

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Not strong enough for hvac applications. Most of the time the copper high pressure line sees in excess of 160psi, depending on the refrigerant used. Older systems are usually alot less than 160, so you can use silver/tin (pipe solder for all practical purposes), but even newer ones are starting to hit the 180-200psi mark. Strength is critical, especially when you first pressurize and evacuate the system. One guy I worked with lost a finger because the joint wasn't good enough...pipe blew apart and refrigerant hit his finger. Instant frostbite.

Re: Dura Fix
 

and to think all the R12/R22 we wasted in class.......

Silver/tin will hold, but it gets $$$$ for the right rods, the nickel rods end up being cheaper.

Now what to do with 4.5 pounds of silver solder rods????? :)

Re: Dura Fix
 

ok.. ive been wanting to play around so i ordered some durafix. a little torch setup and i have some aluminum im going to test this out on. Ill take some pics and maybe a vid when i get it. heres my torch i got at lowes. im using mapp gas and oxygen setup(50 bucks). It can cut steel quickly and steels melting point is like twice aluminums so this should do the job fairly well. Total invested so far is $90 bucks. Thats the torch and rods.

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...r8/P_00112.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...r8/P_00110.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...r8/P_00111.jpg
you cant tell but i have a nice blue flame about 5/8 in long from the tip.

Re: Dura Fix
 

Looks like an interesting product.

I've never tried to work with aluminum, but this sure does look easier than tig welding.

Re: Dura Fix
 

i ordered and it came in today. works very similarly to the video. i'm using a bernzomatic torch (took a while to get hot enough). now to finish that ------- intercooler.

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If you bought this you either your a smiley owning homo

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please dont post later that your ---- fell apart :6

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I did have some respect towards you but that comment is just plain ignorant.

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We used Dura Fix rods to repair a hole in a brass radiator for a friends street rod. 15,000 miles later and still holding on. :y Obviously no replacement for a good TIG but has its uses and works well. Have also used this stuff on small brackets and such that wont see a very high stress load and they are also holding up just fine. Ive used straight M-Gas on it, take a bit to heat up but will work just fine, that Mapp and Oxy setup is like one we have works great.

Re: Dura Fix
 

it doesn't make sense. there's a word missing.

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It was sooo ignorant it, I just couldn't think straight. :1 So everyone who owns a TIG this isn't ac/dc just throw the ---- away. Cause it's worthless and your retarded for wasting your money on it only being able to weld steel. :X

Re: Dura Fix
 

You could try to sell it. I would rather invest my money on something that is versital. A GTAW machine thats AC/DC. A GMAW that can weld aluminium, low to high carbon steel and aluminium, and a SMAW machine for aluminium, steel, cast, and stainless, CAG and CAC. PAC for cutting. Sure it will cast more but well worth it if you know how to weld and have used diffrent machines and you know the diffrence from worthless to worthly.

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If your investing in a livelihood then sure, buy the best, but for most of us this is just a cheap hobby.

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Ive always thought of making my own junkyard TIG.....

http://classicbroncos.com/homemade-welder.shtml

Re: Dura Fix
 

I found some more of the alumaweld stuff out in my garage today, probably about 10-15 full pieces. If anybody wants it say bids and pm me. I will let it go for shipping cost.

Later
Randy

Re: Dura Fix
 

HMT is not the place for you. GTFO.