bdk wrote:
Mudge wrote:
Find yourself a GOOD aluminum welder. I used to work for a guy that could make damage like that practically invisible.
That alloy is not weldable from an aircraft repair standpoint. You could make it look OK but it would not have equivalent strength to an undamaged part.
[b]THE ALUMINUM ALLOY SERIES
Here's a list of aluminum alloys, their characteristics, and their typical
applications as listed by the Aluminum Association.
Series Characteristics Uses
1000 Series Using 99% or higher purity aluminum, the compositions in this series are usually strain hardened. They resist corrosion well, and have high thermal and electrical conductivity.
2000 Series Copper is the alloying element of choice here. Heat treating yields properties similar to mild steel. Sometimes they are artificially aged for even higher strength. Sometimes combined with 6000 or 7000 series alloys to increase corrosion resistance. 3000 Series Alloys in this series are coupled with manganese. They have good corrosion resistance and formability. NOT heat treatable.5000 Series Magnesium, one of the few metals lighter than aluminum, is used here. The resulting non-heat treatable alloys feature moderate to high strength. Extremely weldable, they are also very corrosion resistant.6000 Series Both magnesium and silicon enter the mix for this series, making them heat treatable and extremely versatile (especially the 6061 alloy). Formability, corrosion resistance, and high strength top the list of desirable characteristics. Body panels; bumper face bars; fasteners; body components (both extruded and sheet); driveshafts and driveshaft yokes; bumper reinforcements; brake housings; fuel delivery systems; luggage racks; and more
7000 Series Zinc is the main ingredient, although small amounts of magnesium and/or copper can be thrown in for special applications. All alloys in this series are heat treatable and have extremely high strength.