Lumi-Weld rods

dr sportster · Jun 16, 2018

You see these at the car shows and swap meets. Aluminum lumi-rods ,low temp aluminum welding rod. Guy demonstrates by tacking soda cans together and maybe welds tabs on a piston. I have them but never used them . Anyone have any experience ?{ it almost acts like a solder]

MN valley man · Jun 16, 2018

I bought some of them as I saw the same demonstration with soda cans. I had them for quite a while and really had no practical use for them as they did not hold onto anything heavier such as sheet aluminum. Finally, I just threw them out as being of no use to me.

Moonlite37 · Jun 16, 2018

My experience was almost the same. I do not remember trying them and may still be with my welding table

Janicholson · Jun 16, 2018

I bought some (still have a few) and found they did what was advertised. I have not tried to weld pop cans as there is no need. I have welded motorcycle case holes, and castings successfully. The repair has a different look to the finished surface, but they worked on parts that were not going to be found. Key process was to clean and prep the surface do not wait at all after cleaning. Heat the material around the weld to get it to temperature of the eutectic process. So not try to melt the base metal, not needed, and overheats the filler. I used Mapp gas on heavier material and propane on 1/8" stuff. Being a welder, and knowing how to control heat in the weld is critical. The material has Hot shortness (Small range of solid to liquid transition.) Jim

jtwat · Jun 16, 2018

I have some too. Never had good results using them. Heat has to be just right and metal very clean. Easy to connect soda cans because they are clean and thin.

SVcummins · Jun 16, 2018

Tried welding a hole in a hydraulic line with em it wouldn?t work

jeffcat · Jun 16, 2018

I have bought those little bundles they sell at car shows . Have repaired a crushed motorcycle water inlet and some odds and ends like row boat corner brackets and other things. Here are the rules. Everything must be surgically clean. I MEAN clean!!! Only use a brand new STAINLESS wire brush. Any ferris metal will polute the weld and it ain't gonna weld no mater what you do. I use a bernz-o-matic tourch with MAP gas. You must must must practice a little till you get the hang of it. It really will flow like soilder but the tempature differential is very norrow. It really does work. Not like stick welding but for around the shop stuff it will work if you do it right. Here is a U'tube video that is pretty good. You can also look at a few more. Even fixed the busted off mounting tab on a Briggs. Take model clay and make a little dam around it and the rod will fill it in. Biggest thing is everything must be super clean. Like good welding, soildering pipes, spray paining, you need some practice and super clean surfaces.
alumaloy

mjbrown · Jun 16, 2018

Pretty sure they are zinc.

KF · Jun 16, 2018

I have used with good results a similar product labeled as aluminum solder. Personally, I prefer welding on alloy aluminum. Cast aluminum and especially die cast can slump at welding temperature, so the solder is a good alternative. Using it requires a clean surface and careful heating as mentioned before the transition from solid to the molten state occurs rapidly. So it is much like soldering where heating the surface to the correct temperature to soften the solder is the key to a successful bond.

Bret4207 · Jun 17, 2018

It works if you follow the instructions, but it's not pretty and not real strong. But sometimes it saves the day.

Lumi-Weld rods

dr sportster

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MN valley man

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Moonlite37

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Janicholson

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jtwat

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SVcummins

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jeffcat

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mjbrown

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KF

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Bret4207

Well-known Member

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