What is the best way of trying to get the alum free of oil? heating it up with a torch? it is a intake manifold.

waht do you guys do on valve covers?

 

I always brake cleen heat with a torch then brake cleen again. Then I grind/sand the surface before welding. Depending on the quality of the aluminum this may or may not work.

Matt

 

be careful when u use brake cleaner before welding

http://www.brewracingframes.com/id75.htm

 

^^ Scary stuff. All from just a couple drops of brake cleaner.

 

you are better off using acetone instead of brake cleaner anyways IMO.

 

Kinda glad I read that really.

 

i have a powdercoat oven so i just throw it in there and bake the oil out then drill grind and weld

 

what temp do you bake it at? and for how long?

 

Acetone, heat, and then acetone again works well.

 

I'm pretty cautious welding after any flammable liquid has been on a part. No one needs to be told that. I've lit big puddles on the shop floor and never passed out. That guy must have had some really good stuff.

 

i heat bake it at about 400 for 20-30 min and its done dont try this in your home ove you will hate yourself it will smoke you out of the house

 

chloronated brake cleaner is an entirely different story. one whiff and you are screwed.

 

A friend of mine (EH3civic on here) had a very similar experience to what happened to the guy in that article.

He is building a lotus seven frame in his garage. To clean his material prior to welding, he used brake cleaner. Just like the guy in the story, he thought it was all gone before he started welding. A very small amount caused him to become instantly light headed and caused him breathing problems for days. He seems to be over it now, but it could easily have been worse.

Safety first, even when you think you are safe because you "have been doing it for ever".

 

I think the best way is to clean it first with an oil disolver (ie alcohol, or aceton)

Just before you start welding you must use a hard brush at a high rpm driller in order to clean Alouminum's oxides...

If you use stick or non palmic MIG, it will help you a lot to pre heat the surfaces...(not much just to start easier the arrow...)

 

We get alot of oil soaked jackson manifolds for the intercooler modification, If it's really bad the best thing is to soak in Acid. You can get it from your local welding supplies, I would dilute with water at least 50/50. I would then make sure to wash again with fresh water and the dry it .

 

dilute acid with water huh? sounds like a catastophe.

 

I'm not the brand of acid but thats water the manufacturer recomends to dilute it with.