Hey guys I was wondering what are some tips and tricks of the trade to hold aluminum and SS pipes/ plates in place long enough to tack them together considering magnets wont work on eaither metal. T-joints, IC piping ,manifolds, Down Pipes, ect what meathods have you guys tryed and find to work.

 

I use a small strip of tape to hold the ends flush while I tack also sometime I'll toss it in the vice depending on the part

 

My left hand. Since I'm a righty..
Bessy clamps, modded c-clamps, vise, vise grips, hose clamps, tape, etc...

Get creative. Or buy pipe clamps.

 

Cool keep them comming guys ? Any one have any pics of there modded/creative clamps

 

i use those v block clamps that machinist use also.

 

im not familiar with thoes clamps ?

 

use your off hand.

 

Good fitment so a fusion tack is possible. Then burn your fingertips.

 

Aside from the previously mentioned, I like to tack scrap metal to my welding table to keep pipe in place, kind of a half arsed jig.

 

Thanks guys for all the great info keep them comming people, pics are always welcomed. As for the fusion welds i have no problem when it's mild steel but when I was trying to do aluminum I wasemt having much success with a fusion tack. Probually due to bad fit up but any tips on that.

 

put it in a vise.

 

Pipe clamps work wonders,

I got two sets off ebay through summit, adjustable 1.5-3" I believe.

I use them all the time, even to hold pipes in funny angles in the chop saw.

 

i typically use welding tape...its super sticky and strong, so it will hold even with the weight. cut three pieces to wrap all the way around the pipe, allowing about an inch between each piece to place your tack. then remove the tape, use acetone to clean the adhesive off the surface, and do your final welds

 

You need perfect fit (it helps to push the two joints together) and a lot of heat really fast across the joint to tack aluminum. Just takes practice.

You can also weld a small ball onto the edge and then use the small ball to tack over to the piece of metal you're trying to weld it to, I usually use this method when I'm welding in bungs where getting perfect fit is much more difficult, and the ***** also help hold it in place while I tack it in.

 

I agree with the fitment bit. Make your joints fit well, and tack without filler.

I do everything like this - AL, SS, etc..

 

So to do this correctly with out filler. Do i turn the heat up higher than i would if i was actually wedling ? And do I just hit the pedal real hard and let off or do I need to hold the pedal down for a bit.

 

Hold the parts with your free hand unless there excessively heavy. for tacking you should never need more amperage then your using for welding that particular material. Just strike an arc and give it a swift pump of the peddle if not using pulse. Or if pulsing a few pulses gets the job done.

I have never got to into the clamps and tape, makes tacking WAY to inefficient. But my fitment is always very tight fitting. I never exceed the material thickness in gaps. The finished product shows poor fit up.

 

You wouldn't happen to have any pics of these handy would you?

 

I hold the pipe with one hand and tack with the other

Agree fitment has to be tight. Cant be a gap or youll never tack it

16 gauge pipe i use 25 amps