Aluminum jump weld

Has anyone tried it? Is it possible?

Not yet; you need alu flex rod to do it;
I have some and lots of alu to try it on.
Maybe can try and see what happens.

I saw Dave Ferguson do a jump weld on aluminum a long time ago. It looked pretty easy - for him.

if you mean alum brazing, (nearly finished scarfs, flux, a much lower temp melting rod and a heat source) it's not too big of a deal if you remember to clean, clean and clean some more before you start. Oh and don't hit it with the hammer. Smitty has a tutorial somewhere on the 'net.

Sorry I should have been more specific. I am wanting to make a swelled heel aluminum bar shoe and then jump weld in another bar across the widest part of the hoof. I do know how to weld or braze the bar shoe in the forge. Just wondering if I try to jump weld on the other piece if the original weld will stay.

shouldn't be a problem, maybe you could cool the heel during your pre-heat

How would you do that Brian?

Regards

that water bucket that I'm ALWAYS TRIPPING OVER comes to mind

that's easy michael

I think this might distort the shoe, and if it wasn't a good weld, could cause it to separate. And then, if it did hold, when you reheat the shoe to welding temp, you're back where you started. I guess it would have the advantage of letting you know if your original weld was good. Is that what you were suggesting Brian? Disclaimer: I have welded aluminum, but I've never tried what Michael is doing, just thinking out loud.

Regards

it's either welded or it isn't and I'd prefer to discover that before the shoe is nailed up

It does not seem easy. I am under the impression that if I alow the shoe to come back to a welding heet that the original rod or wire will heet up and run back out of the weld into the bottom of my forge. in any case I think I will try it tonight.

Brian it is best to let Aluminum air cool to keep its hardness. If you quench out a section and then reheat i think you might make it brittel. I could be wrong

When I used to weld aluminum bars with torches I would throw them in the water bucket right away after the weld(s). If the weld cracked, the weld was for shat anyway. They would have the same wear as store bought. JME's

This was done out in the open on a cold windy day

I'm talking about in a forge

I find the handmade last longer

on the road you can do anything if you try
this was a demo for another farriers education
he never done this before.
most stuff is done at the horse with us

aluminum that has been forged will initially be soft but will harden up over time( 2-3 weeks). someone with a degree in metalurgy can explain the why