# wtb aluminum piping kit

**URL:** <https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wtb-aluminum-piping-kit/263493>\
**Category:** Shift518 Automotive\
**Created:** [April 23, 2012, 11:31am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wtb-aluminum-piping-kit/263493 "2012-04-23T11:31:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 9

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**Author:** ![Boxersix](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/boxersix/32/6327_2.png) [@Boxersix](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Boxersix)\
**Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 11:32am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wtb-aluminum-piping-kit/263493/9 "2012-04-26T11:32:32Z")

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> [@FS: Corbeau FX1 Racing Seats w/ sliders and 5pt harness](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/fs-corbeau-fx1-racing-seats-w-sliders-and-5pt-harness/49305/9):
>
> question for ya.
> 
> What the hell is the “chrome” looking aluminum tubing some kits use out there? I had a bunch of customers bring that stuff in, aligned and what not, just leaving me to lay some dimes and hand it back… and that stuff welded like shit.
> 
> I really doubt its just polished, becasue even the inside was very “polished” looking. Yet when you take a new flap disk or SS brush to it, you cant see a distinct edge you would expect when removing a coating from the substrate.
> 
> I removed what ever it was from the outside, and had to use less amperage to avoid full penetration too much, becasue as soon as I melted the shit on the inside, it would instantly float up through my puddle and grey/dull it out, but if I kept away from it it welded/looked normal.
> 
> I am thinking dipped somehow.

It’s either bare 6061 with polishing rouge embedded into it, or some of the clean anodized shit. The latter of the two is the worse of the two.

Always buy raw material if you’re going to weld, clean and prep. You’ll never get a clean, proper weld on either of the two prepped materials without some serious cleaning and even they it’s a basket case. Rouge is embedded into the material, it burns and creates gas pockets in the puddle. Anodizing is just plain jane surface oxidization and you cannot weld through it.

90% of the time the raw material is cheaper than polished crap anyway, so if a customer comes in with it tell them to return it and just buy proper material. It’s what I do.

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