13 replies to this topic

[TAiLsChaser]

Alright everyone. I got a few projects going right now but the biggest problem I'm having is two striped screw caps and as you can guess from the title, they are made of aluminum. My strongest glue hardened and cured fully and on this gun's first shot, it broke the glue and moved the cap back 1 mm. So.... repeated shots are dangerous and I'm looking for a way to keep it there. I'm not looking to solder the cap on there (at least not yet - maybe a last-ditch effort). So what do you guys have? I know you don't really mess with aluminum on aluminum but this is my best bet.

Oh yeah... the gun shoots ALL ammo. Yes all. Stock suction, taggers, SL's, weighted SL's, stefans, arrows and even titan missiles. It pretty much is accurate to use a sight (with darts)(not to the point of a scope but what is other than a real gun).

In the end, it's in my best effort to keep this gun alive.

Thanks for some input.

-Capital T, Capital A, i, Capital L, s

Edited by TAiLsChaser, 16 April 2008 - 09:18 PM.

[Trevor]

If you're bonding a metal to a metal then welding/soldering is the only way to go buddy. If you don't have access to the required tools, then go to your local school/college and check out their autoshop or something.

Edited by Trevor, 16 April 2008 - 09:10 PM.

[Omega]

Which gun are you talking about? Air gun, spring gun, homemade?

[TAiLsChaser]

I got the tools for sure but I just didn't want to screw with anything like that. It's a lot easier to fix a mistake with glue than it is with solder. There's also o-rings and rubber involved around the target area. That's the other reason I wish to stay away from that kind of method. Thanks though.

Omega: Only an air gun could do all of that. It's an intense pressure that's pushing my Al back.

Edited by TAiLsChaser, 16 April 2008 - 09:15 PM.

[Squilt]

You could just use JB- Kwik or JB - Weld

[Blacksunshine]

You could just use JB- Kwik or JB - Weld

Yup short of actually welding it JB is probably your best bet.

[TAiLsChaser]

Thanks everyone. I'll try the JB-Weld first. If that doesn't work, I'll either scrap this endeavor or take the final step and solder it closed.

[Homestarune]

Unless, I am horrible mistaken, (which I very may well be,) aluminum does not weld very well. Doesn't it just melt?

[Twitch]

Melting is exactly what you want the metal to do. (cutting aluminum via a torch is the tricky part) Though in this case, I suspect a torch is not an acceptable means, (I'm guessing the rest of the blaster is not made of metal?) and even if so, the o-rings definitely need to be removed prior to sparking any fuel gas. I suspect TIG welding may be a better option. Does the screw go all the way through the workpiece? If so you may wanna consider using a portable spot welder, depending on the dimension of the workpiece. (If you can put the electrodes at opposite ends of the screw...)

Any any case, soldering is probably going to be your best option, as the heat is much more localized, and would be less likely (than an acetylene or MAPP torch) to destroy the rest of the workpiece.

Edited by Twitch, 17 April 2008 - 03:04 PM.

[TAiLsChaser]

Well the whole thing is made of metal. Solder is my best option vs. welding. I'd have to go and buy an O2 tank to get that running anyway. As much as I need this to be immovable, I'd still like the option of taking it off in the event that something inside get screwy. But, in its current status, unless I do fix it by such means, it's useless to a degree.

[keef]

JB Weld!

Bonds metals, plastics, anything. Just use it like epoxy.

Same thing except its way less liquidy, and harder. Shinier too.

[eddieoctane]

If you have the means, I would recommend MIG welding. MIG welding was originally developed for aluminum work. Your profile says you're in engineering. If you're still taking classes, your campus may have a shop where you can have the welding done. If not, try making good friends with someone who works at a muffler repair shop. Most decent exhaust systems have a few welded portions, so someone there may be able to help you out.

BTW, I am an Industrial Engineering major at PSU. Good to find some other engineers out there.

[slowguitarman]

If you have the means, I would recommend MIG welding. MIG welding was originally developed for aluminum work. Your profile says you're in engineering. If you're still taking classes, your campus may have a shop where you can have the welding done. If not, try making good friends with someone who works at a muffler repair shop. Most decent exhaust systems have a few welded portions, so someone there may be able to help you out.

BTW, I am an Industrial Engineering major at PSU. Good to find some other engineers out there.

I would actually recommend TIG welding, I have never got the chance to use a TIG, but I have heard it is better for aluminum. MIG welding also requires a certain type of gas that isn't needed for other metals (I can't remember the name of the gas). There are probably a lot of engineers/engineering majors on here. I am majoring in mechanical engineering at WVU.

[eddieoctane]

I would actually recommend TIG welding, I have never got the chance to use a TIG, but I have heard it is better for aluminum. MIG welding also requires a certain type of gas that isn't needed for other metals (I can't remember the name of the gas). There are probably a lot of engineers/engineering majors on here. I am majoring in mechanical engineering at WVU.

TIG may give a better weld, but it takes much longer. It will cost more as well just for materials.

And both TIG and MIG require a shielding gas (they stand for Tungsten Inert Gas and Metal Inert Gas, respectively). The difference is that in MIG, the filler metal is the electrode, and in TIG, the filler metal is seperate. This makes TIG much harder to do.

Either way, most colleges with engineering programs have some sort of fabrication shop, and most towns have muffler shops. He should be able to find some who can weld and convince them to help with the work.



Good luck with your mod, Tails.