I need one Magnesium TIG rod.

[clint53]

UPDATE - Now that I've studied the subject of welding magnesium. I'm exploring other methods.

I need one Magnesium (Not aluminum) TIG rod. 1/16 or 3/32.
Working on wallowed out and busted holes.

 

[catbuster]

Will the welding supply shop near you not sell you one? Or do they not stock it and it’s not worth their time or money to order some in?

It’s some fairly expensive stuff, AZ101, AZ92A or AZ61 are three common fillers used. The last time I bought some it was like two bucks per 1/16”x36” stick.

 

[clint53]

No

Will the welding supply shop near you not sell you one? Or do they not stock it and it’s not worth their time or money to order some in?

It’s some fairly expensive stuff, AZ101, AZ92A or AZ61 are three common fillers used. The last time I bought some it was like two bucks per 1/16”x36” stick.

They won't break a pound. Yep 90 some bucks for 1/16"
Thanks.

 

[Ol' Brian]

Can you tig weld magnesium in open air? Or do you need an oxygen free atmosphere to keep it from burning?

 

[clint53]

Can you tig weld magnesium in open air? Or do you need an oxygen free atmosphere to keep it from burning?

Good question. That reminds me about the magnesium bombs that were used in WWII I've read about.

 

[clint53]

Will the welding supply shop near you not sell you one? Or do they not stock it and it’s not worth their time or money to order some in?

It’s some fairly expensive stuff, AZ101, AZ92A or AZ61 are three common fillers used. The last time I bought some it was like two bucks per 1/16”x36” stick.

How about brass? Will it stick to magnesium?

 

[clint53]

Can you tig weld magnesium in open air? Or do you need an oxygen free atmosphere to keep it from burning?

How to Tig Weld Magnesium – Welding Mastermind

 

[Goinwheelin]

UPDATE - Now that I've studied the subject of welding magnesium. I'm exploring other methods.

I need one Magnesium (Not aluminum) TIG rod. 1/16 or 3/32.
Working on wallowed out and busted holes.
View attachment 874892

I’ll ask the lead welder at work tomorrow. And my brother. I know he’s done some mag work on transaxles

 

[huskihl]

Az92 is what I’ve heard. I bought 1/4 pound on eBay for $35 or so. I think it was 14 rods

 

[drf255]

It will cost more to ship a rod or two that the rod itself.

It’s not an easy welding material, and it depends on the base allow of what you have there. I use AZ92A and the real stuff was around $125 a pound. I find using a backer to be helpful. It’s a dirty welding experience for sure. The beads don’t stand “proud” like aluminum does and I always find myself doing a lot of grinding afterwards. You will use more rod than you think.

They also make hi temp aluminum/Mag brazing material that needs some type of form to hold it together. I always feared setting the mag on fire with this method though.

 

[drf255]

Here is a case repair.

 

[Goinwheelin]

Talked to the lead welder and he echoed the responses here. He gave me what he had but it ain’t much. Not sure if it’s useful to you or not. It’s .060 Rod

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

Everyone worries about magnesium and fire.

It's going to be the grinding dust or machining chips that are the fire hazard.

 

[catbuster]

Can you tig weld magnesium in open air? Or do you need an oxygen free atmosphere to keep it from burning?

Nope, I usually run the cup/gas flow as I would for Aluminum, and it doesn’t take much shielding. Much less than stainless, inconel or some other alloys. Cast magnesium is a nasty process, I can’t imagine extra argon beyond providing an inert atmosphere immediately around the puddle would be helpful.

Mag chips in the machine shop on the other hand... Well, just don’t put water on them when they catch fire if they’re not cleaned up.

OP, I’ve heard of magnesium being brazed, but I have never seen it. I may just not have been around, by the time I really started sticking metal together in the early 2000s gas welding and brazing had largely gone out of fashion.

 

[clint53]

I’ll ask the lead welder at work tomorrow. And my brother. I know he’s done some mag work on transaxles

Thanks very much.
I have a cousin that's certified and he says he can TIG it if I get the rods.
He said TIG welding was invented to weld magnesium.
Clint

 

[Ol' Brian]

Nope, I usually run the cup/gas flow as I would for Aluminum, and it doesn’t take much shielding. Much less than stainless, inconel or some other alloys. Cast magnesium is a nasty process, I can’t imagine extra argon beyond providing an inert atmosphere immediately around the puddle would be helpful.

Mag chips in the machine shop on the other hand... Well, just don’t put water on them when they catch fire if they’re not cleaned up.

OP, I’ve heard of magnesium being brazed, but I have never seen it. I may just not have been around, by the time I really started sticking metal together in the early 2000s gas welding and brazing had largely gone out of fashion.

OK, that's what I meant... I guess I worded poorly... I didn't know if the shielding gas would be enough or if you had to do a back purge as well to keep the oxygen off of it. I've welded lots of steel, a little bit of AL, but never messed with Mag at all.

When did brazing go out of style? For many things it's still a very viable process I would think, especially with cast iron and thin wall tubing.

 

[dynodave]

Yes you can TIG magnesium. I have also been practicing. My final target is a Jonsereds 111S gas tank to close a hole. A screw came undone and fell between the engine and handle/tank. While running the screw vibrated thru the gas tank wall. I bought it this way.
I have a few old metal poulan 3400 chassis and I cut them into strips and try and weld them back together. I find the big problem for me is there is VERY little transition from solid to slush then a wash out of molten mag. I to have been trying to figure out if a brass back up or reassemble the tanks and back gas it.
good skill is better than good luck

 

[clint53]

OP, I’ve heard of magnesium being brazed, but I have never seen it. I may just not have been around, by the time I really started sticking metal together in the early 2000s gas welding and brazing had largely gone out of fashion.

Thanks Sean
In the 70's and 80's I got fairly good brazing and fusing thin metal, because my buzz box stick welding would just burn through it.
Probably 35 years ago at the papermill I worked at I saw a contractor TIG welding stainless steel. It fascinated me. I got a shield and set beside him and watched for about 20 minutes.
I could relate it to fuzzing with a acetylene brazing tip that I learned in high school in 1970.
Clint

 

[clint53]

good skill is better than good luck

I agree with that 100%.

 

[clint53]

When did brazing go out of style? For many things it's still a very viable process I would think, especially with cast iron and thin wall tubing.

I'd like to know that also. It was a very satisfying type of welding to do many years ago for me.