Aluminium Welding

[Escadrille Ecosse]

So a friend of mine is restoring a pre-war Brough Superior belonging to his father.

Unfortunately one of the aluminium castings has cracked and he is looking to get it welded and refinished. Obviously this is a very rare and valuable part so my mate wants it doing properly and sympathetically. This won't be a DIY job, these are seriously valuable machines.

I used to deal with sort of stuff many years ago when I worked in defence aerospace but I am rather out of touch now. And anyway in those days personal stuff could be done as a 'government contract job' and no questions asked.

Any suggestions from the forum?

[RogerH]

Hi Colin

interesting, I spent 40+ years at British Airways and Ali welding was quite common place.

The welders could weave magic with their sparks.

I would look for an aeospace facility.

Or any decent garage.  I'm sure you will not be looking for a welded finish as such and so it will cut back and polished.

 

Roger

[Escadrille Ecosse]

10 minutes ago, RogerH said:

The welders could weave magic with their sparks.

Absolutely Roger. I was always very impressed.

11 minutes ago, RogerH said:

I'm sure you will not be looking for a welded finish as such and so it will cut back and polished.

This ^^^^

[Nick Jones]

Alloy wheel repair specialists?

[thebrookster]

I have absolutely no idea if they are still going, but might be worth chatting to Brayon Classic Engineering up opposite (kind of) Duck Bay on the side of Loch Lomond? They dealt with various makes/models of cars although mostly American muscle, but they might know of someone/suggest where they send similar jobs?

P.S. I do note they haven't updated their Facebook page since 2024, hence the comment about still going

Edited January 5 by thebrookster

[Mark]

There are probably lots of places closer to you, but I know they restore vintage aircraft at Duxford air museum, TSSC used to hold a show there for many years and you could wander around the hangers watching the skilled craftsman at work. The sort of place I would feel safe working on a Brough Superior.

See this very rare line up at Kop Hill a few months ago. Staggering values.

Edited January 5 by Mark

[Sprint95m]

There is actually several fabrication businesses in Caithness that do aluminium alloy welding so I would presume the same would be true of Glasgow?

I had a gearbox remote shortened successfully but the welder did warn me that the quality of the alloy determines the result…..

Ian