Stick weld aluminum

[oldnslo]

Can new clean 6061 - T6 be welded using a stick welder? Reason for asking is that my son & I purchased an aluminum frame trailer and we are debating different ways to attach a hand winch that keeps steel away from the aluminum to reduce or eliminate the galvanic action potential of road salt, steel and aluminum. The winch would be used for pulling light loads like lawn mowers up the ramps.

Other option is to have a weld shop fabricate something which might be the best choice.

TIA

 

[Fuddy1952]

I'd rather have an electric winch, but if I was going the cheap route I'd consider something like this harbor freight $25 that simply hooks over front then unhooks.
Or for $5 you can get a mounting plate. Fabricating something isn't going to be cheap, electrolysis I can't imagine being a problem.

9 lbs. Capacity Hand Winch

 

[ruffdog]

I think this is the stuff we used at work. It is hard to see what is going on as the rod burns fast and it is bright. I would mostly weld by feel just knowing you go through the rod quick. Not as pretty as TIG but for quick welds, it worked.
Certanium 68 | For industrial use

 

[Stimw]

If you have a lot of time to finesse the weld or have a sense of humor it can be done.
I have done it in the past and would rate it better than nothing.
The rods MUST be completely dry and will attract moisture in minutes and become dripping wet!
Only get a couple rods out of package at a time.
When I was messing with it the rods were DC only too.
You pretty much need to forget most of what you know about regular stick welding because they burn very fast.
If you want to bolt steel to aluminum you need to put some kind of plastic in between.
On semi trailers they use Mylar Tape between bottom rails and steel crossmembers and upper couplers.

 

[nybirdman]

After 40 years as a certified welder;I hated aluminum stick welding;next in line was heli-arc aluminum.Anyway you can bolt a bracket on would be a lot less frustrating.

 

[fried1765]

If you have a lot of time to finesse the weld or have a sense of humor it can be done.
I have done it in the past and would rate it better than nothing.
The rods MUST be completely dry and will attract moisture in minutes and become dripping wet!
Only get a couple rods out of package at a time.
When I was messing with it the rods were DC only too.
You pretty much need to forget most of what you know about regular stick welding because they burn very fast.
If you want to bolt steel to aluminum you need to put some kind of plastic in between.
On semi trailers they use Mylar Tape between bottom rails and steel crossmembers and upper couplers.

I would consider coating either the aluminum or the steel (or both) with two coats of two part marine epoxy paint, and then bolting the parts together.

 

[k0ua]

You might want to watch this. Keep in mind Jody is a pro. I wouldn't mind trying the stick rod with a DC TIG approach. Might do in a pinch like he says.

 

[yomax4]

Aluminum Stick is a quick and humble process. ( I don't recommend it ) Works best to Preheat to 500 degrees, Run the stick straight up and down for best results. Any amount of angle and it blows out easily. It actually makes a better brazing rod than stick.

 

[oldnslo]

Thanks Guys,
I think I will look real hard and using steel frame for the winch mount and then bolting to the aluminum with mylar insulation between the steel and aluminum.

 

[radios1]

Thanks Guys,
I think I will look real hard and using steel frame for the winch mount and then bolting to the aluminum with mylar insulation between the steel and aluminum.

and use stainless steel bolts which won't interact with the aluminum..