Magnesium welding

[LOtown]

Anyone Tig weld Mag?
Been cleaning the **** out of it and seems like I need to make two passes with it as I get alot of porosity when welding it.

Like weld it, grind it down to correct profile (welding something real thin), find porosity, reweld, grind down again and its clean.

Any tips? Proper rod?

 

[MBfreak]

Magnesium Welding?
Not for the amateur? I have only seen it done in an industrial production facility by a welding robot. Parts for high voltage circuit breakers.
Parts to bw welded were submerged in a container filled with liquid and the arc-welding was done when the prts were submerged.

Ola

 

[rsanter]

I think the other way its done os in a chanmer like when welding titanium
looks like a sand blast cabinet but is filled with shielding gas and the operator welds looking through the glass

bob

 

[NASTYZEN]

Oh yes,Mag is a totally different animal to work with.You MUST clean it real well with Acetone before even starting to do anything with it.
What I do is s/s wire brush all over with a cup brush. Then I use a die grinder and gouge the cracks and remove the top surface about 1/2 on each side of the weld area.Do not use abrasive disks as they contaminate the base metal.Do not preheat.
I always clean the filler rod with scotch brite to remove any oxidation from it. The filler rod should be pure magnesium.Use Argon gas with a large cup,aprox.25-30 cfm and puretung electrode works best.
Mag will often bubble up so go slow and don't be afraid to go back and forth to let the bubbles escape.I often have to go back and die grind and start all over.
Preparation will go a long way to make your life easier.
Make sure you clean up the mag dust and shavings before any welding is done as Mag is ******** flammable!Be careful with excess material falling to the floor as it usually burns like hell.DO NOT PUT WATER on the fire as it will only increase the fire 10x!!!! I keep a bucket of DRY sand nearby for safety.
Oh yeah, and don't breath the blue smoke!
Have fun.

 

[VWandDodge]

The old Volkswagen engine cases are made of magnesium and can be welded. As I understand it, the area must be cleaned of all contaminants and then it is suggested to heat it in an oven at 300* for about 20-35 minutes beforehand.

 

[t100]

 

[srmofo]

The old Volkswagen engine cases are made of magnesium and can be welded. As I understand it, the area must be cleaned of all contaminants and then it is suggested to heat it in an oven at 300* for about 20-35 minutes beforehand.

I thought that was to burn off the oil??? Im not a welder , just what I thought I heard before.

 

[LOtown]

Thanks for the help guys, saw that youtube video already good stuff!

So for best results weld in a gas chamber?

I was wondering about the oxidation on the rod if I should clean that or not. Tried it both ways with similar results.

So the smoke bad to breath? similar to welding galvanized?

Thanks for all the help !

 

[cnc-me]

I have never welded any of it, but I know a guy that had welded a
magliner (magnesium hand truck) and his beads looked better than mine on
aluminum. He is a welding instructor at Michigan State.

 

[t100]

So the smoke bad to breath? similar to welding galvanized?

in the youtube vid he mentioned zinc content in the mag alloy. yes, it's bad.

one way to get rid of contaminants is to heat the metal with a propane torch, basically burn the oil out of the seams and pores.

 

[LK44E]

I did not watch the video, on phone. For fun you can run a bead on mag with alum wire and break the bead off and vica versa.
First test that it is mag, white vinegar with fuzz indicating it is mag, it also etchs it so it does clean it. In regard to porosity, castings has it the most. What I have done that works out is pulsing, with the foot not a controller. Just enough heat to make the puddle alittle bigger then get off it and repeat as needed. Oh when done let it cool then smack it to make you didnot use the wrong filler.

 

[VWandDodge]

I did not watch the video, on phone. For fun you can run a bead on mag with alum wire and break the bead off and vica versa.
First test that it is mag, white vinegar with fuzz indicating it is mag, it also etchs it so it does clean it. In regard to porosity, castings has it the most. What I have done that works out is pulsing, with the foot not a controller. Just enough heat to make the puddle alittle bigger then get off it and repeat as needed. Oh when done let it cool then smack it to make you didnot use the wrong filler.

Here's what happens when magnesium is bathed in vinegar.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=442291

 

[NASTYZEN]

I have a gearbox spacer/oil tank from a current FF race car made of Mag that needs a little TLC. I will make sure to get some shots of the repair when the customer gives me the GO.
Heating the thing up in an oven is a good idea to burn off the oil, but I find that if I preheat for welding like for Alu. The weld tends to crack in the middle.
I weld them cold and quench with a wet rag after.I know,it's against all logic but it works best for me.

 

[VWandDodge]

I have a gearbox spacer/oil tank from a current FF race car made of Mag that needs a little TLC. I will make sure to get some shots of the repair when the customer gives me the GO.
Heating the thing up in an oven is a good idea to burn off the oil, but I find that if I preheat for welding like for Alu. The weld tends to crack in the middle.
I weld them cold and quench with a wet rag after.I know,it's against all logic but it works best for me.

Perhaps the laws of physics are different up there in Canadia, eh.