DB90
XS650 Addict
Nice! Some of those china machines are actually quite nice and reliable. Mine is a Primeweld, which is a china machine. Fantastic machine that has never let me down and I've used it TONS in the 4 years of owning it.I have the machine AC TIG .and Stick Combo just never used it for TIG yet.
Bought it from China when the freight and custom charges was low I believe they have doubled in price since then
It is a small hole leaking oil It is more a question of stop the leaking than any strength affecting damage
Wont need any long spark time More like a spot will be enough I believe
I am thinking grinding a small grove notch
What is the secret getting it clean , And should one preheat
When it comes to welding dirty, oily aluminum you want to grind out a bit of the spot you plan on welding with a carbide burr. Clean it with acetone really well (NO BRAKE CLEANER unless it is the green unchlorinated type). Then you want to preheat to burn some of the oil out, then run your Tig torch over it without adding filler, the cleaning action of the AC will clean and burn out some more oil. After that, start adding a little filler, then grind that filler back out. What you are doing there is essentially adding fresh clean aluminum into the dirty aluminum which then pushes out the dirt. Do that a couple times and then run a final bead and your done.
I'm some cases where the material may be thin, you really want to watch how hot you get the piece. Take breaks and let it naturally cool a bit before continuing. I've found most engine cases to be pretty ok and not warp from heat. But if it is thin and you are able to clamp it down to hold its shape then do that and just watch heat input.