aluminum wire for soldering?

IME aluminum is solderable if one cleans the surface *immediately* prior to applying solder...IOW, heat the metal, scrape the area to be soldered while hot and feed in the solder. It's a PITA, but marginally doable.

jak

reads like a strong joint is produced if 1xxx is used with the aluminum rod . where's the 1xxx?

the idea is to make eyeglass frames-question before is: does an eyeglass frame member-given the thickness-survive heat necessary for penetrating aluminum oxide with aluminum rod?

IME Katrina/Wilma!!

Exterior strut armatures are very popular for sculptors who like to work out the figure and pose as they go. Aluminum wire, hung from the armature makes it easy to bend arms and legs and make modifications as you go... and for that style of working they are fine.

Re: Your thoughts on Loveland Academy of Arts supplies-from henri>

you can buy rod for soldering the aluminum together at home depot. Thats what I do. I solder the aluminum wire together. Then it bends however I need. Bernzomatic Aluminum Solder Rod Model 4627170 Has brinnell hardness of 100, Working temperature to 750 degrees F. Use to join and repair aluminum obj...

There is such a thing as copper-clad aluminum. Perhaps that is what you are referring to?

Also, some aluminum alloys can be successfully soldered with ordinary materials. One way is to use a coating of light oil or rosin flux and then scrape the oxide film off. The coating will prevent the aluminum from immediately re-oxidizing. I have used 3-in-1 oil, by the way.

Aluminum is highly reactive with oxygen and that is what makes it so difficult to solder. As soon as you remove the oxide film, it immediately reforms. That's where the oil or flux coating comes in.

i tried covering aluminum with flux, then filing surface, soldering with transistor solder and 25 watts-the aluminum was cut thin from Home Depot stock-no flow, no bond. web search revealed type 1xxx aluminum is used for soldering that should be the "also" G's suggestion to search for aluminum solder, which should be obvious, thanks G leads to the sculpture people through the rod: stiff wire may be workable. !xxx? I'll look for bus bars. IME Aluminum is a web clearing area for al scrap to china. go see.