[VAC] Re: Soldering Aluminum Rips?

[Dr. Gerald N. Johnson, electrical engineer]

All solders that I've tried for aluminum were based on zinc mixtures and
while they did hold aluminum pieces together, there was a significant
color and texture difference, soldering required temperatures just short
of the melting point of the aluminum. I'd think replacing the panel
would be easier than soldering because you'd have to remove the panel to
solder to keep from burning the trailer down.

It may be practical to find an aluminum welding specialist to fix the
tear with aluminum rod and heliarc, but it will probably show a weld
bead unless you grind and sand it down flush and polish for a month of
Sundays to get it to come close to matching the Alclad alloy.]

Plumbers older easily on copper pipe, I don't know of aluminum pipe used
for plumbing.

The cost of replacing a panel should depend greatly on the panel and the
curvature of that panel.

Gerald J.



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