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Posts: 40
Location: NEW LENOX | does any one know if welding a older aluminum boats seams would in any way hurt the boat (i.e make it to ridgid) I weld so The cost is the least of my worries.
I dont want to start a debate over tin cans and fiberglass I'm just looking for awnsers THANKS |
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Posts: 333
Location: menasha wi 54952 | First I have some questions for you.
How big of a boat?
What do you mean by "Seams"? The length of the boat? Parts of the seam?
How thick is the aluminum?
Mig or tig?
MR |
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Posts: 40
Location: NEW LENOX | by seams I mean where the two pieces come together and are rivited. and I was thinking of stich welding (tig) the whole length of the boat. Thanks for the response. |
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Posts: 333
Location: menasha wi 54952 | Do you mean one weld the length of the boat? Or are you thinking an occasional "stitch" weld spaced evenly the length of the boat? Are you trying to add strength or fix leaks?
MR |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | These boats are designed to flex a bit, so anything that would make one area more rigid may transfer motion to another - perhaps unintended - part. I'm not certain that welding the seam as you describe would cause such a problem ,though. I'm guessing that it is leaking or you wouldn't be asking, there may be other remedies, though, that could be as effective in stopping the leak. m |
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Posts: 68
| jmac DONT weld next 2 rivets when you put that heat on there the metal will flex and break rivets I found out the hard way if the only reaso you are doing it is for more strengh I would say leave it |
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Posts: 40
Location: NEW LENOX | Thanks for the responses, I should have said earlier that I started to look at older boats and was worried about the rivets becoming loose and was looking for a way to repair. Thanks again |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | Best thing to do with loose rivets is to tighten them with a ball peen hammer on one side and a block on the other. If you can't reach both sides, glob JB weld over the offending rivet and smooth it out. seals up real nice. m |
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welding aluminum