I'm getting ready to make some aluminum intercooler pipes. The supplier I'm buying the piping from has this comment posted on their polished aluminum bends:

"Due to the compounds used to polish the surface of this 6061 aluminum tube, this product is not recommended for welded applications unless you have a complete understanding of proper surface preparation techniques that should be taken prior to welding."

Being a newbie at AL tig welding, I'm wondering if there's anything to this. Should I just get the mill finish tubing instead since it's going to be welded... or will the polished tubing be just fine? Anything special that needs done to the polished tube beside normal pre-weld cleaning?

 

Id take a scuff pad and some acetone and clean the weld joint. Then hit the area with a stainless brush and some more acetone. Wipe dry and weld.

 

If I'm not mistaken wouldn't that ruin the polished look? for some i assume this is of no concern.

If i were doing it i would use a 3m red pad and go around the edge's to be joined about 1/4" in. then rub with acetone. this would reduce the effected area that has to be cleaned, as wire wheels are not so accurate.

 

You can just repolish it afterwards. When you weld you will still get that white oxidation on either side of the weld anyways so you'd have to polish that out.

 

take one of your drops and try it doing nothing but cleaning it with a rag and some cleaner

acetone laquer thinner brake clean NON CLORINATED ONLY and give it a try right in the polished area. If you find it to be OK then the only thing you need to make sure is to clean the cut face of the tube and also the inside since it usually has some of the lube from the bending process and or the polishing. If it doesn't weld well then there is probably more then just polishing going on. Think about it. For the surface to be really shinny it can't have any residue on it. I weld polished aluminum all the time and have no issues but it is polished and not brite anodized as I believe some of the parts are.

 

You only have to do this where you're welding not the entire pipe, so it's no problem since the bead is on it anyway.

 

I've found that the cheapass prepolished ebay bends weld better than some of the normal piping you get from well known vendors.

 

Most of the "polished" alluminum ebay piping is not polished at all, its actually plated. If you grind off the polished areas you will see a copper looking layer under it before the raw metal. And its highly doubtfull that chinese metal welds better than aerospace metal...

 

i kind of agree that some of the ebay piping welds way better than expected, not the best in the world but really good for the price and how much material you get for less than a hundred bucks.

 

Not my 3" cxracing intercooler piping kit. The pipes welded up fine, they were not coated, rather polished aluminum. 2mm thick i believe as well, so they won't burn through that easily.

 

Thanks for all the replies guys. Pretty much what I figured about cleaning the pipes real good. I keep everything that I TIG weld meticulously clean as it is. I think I'll try the polished aluminum and re-polish it after welding.

I didn't know about the cheap eBay aluminum being plated though.

 

Not all of the ebay stuff is coated, I've had customers bring some that was and some that wasn't. Just depends on where it comes from.

 

yup. try this first.

 

Ive tried welding that mirror finished tubing it was a nitemare. I tried cleaning brushing and it came out like trash.

 

The vibrant piping is very easy to weld. i dont even usually clean it first either.

 

I've welded tube that I've personally polished already (I never buy it pre-polished). It worked out fine, just cleaned it as usual with scotchbrite/stainless brush and then acetone.

 

I've found it very difficult to weld the polished aluminum..a lot of contamination and such..after cleaning however it does seem to come out fine, but yes ruins the look. I say just get some regular non polished pipes..my opinion it looks better. good luck! I used a scotch bright 90 disk worked perfect.

 

I've welded several setups with this stuff as well, it does come out quite nice. I just did the typical prep at the weld joint. I was too worried about trying to weld the polished area and have a contaminated garbage weld.