Once you ve obtained the solder online or from an unusually well stocked hardware store the main challenge lies in working quickly enough to join the aluminum immediately after the aluminum oxide layer has been scraped off the.
How to solder aluminum gutters.
Thanks for doing the legwork on this problem.
We also carry the flux and brushes that are necessary for prepping the copper.
I recommnbed rosin flux because any residue of acid chloride flux will rust em.
Per box and can be purchased by the pound.
Easy to overheat then you have to start all over.
Bars with 50 lbs.
If you want to rivet tin surfaces first.
My gutters are galvanized.
Few things are absolutely impossible but many things are impractical.
Our solder comes in 1 4 lb.
Not easy and the solder is very expensive.
The silicone gutter sealants seem to leak a fair bit.
When the time comes to replace your gutters you ll have tow major options.
Be sure and post how it turns out.
Traditionally copper gutter installers rely on solder to seal joints because it s a permanent solution.
6 aluminum k style gutters are commonly found on light commercial buildings multi family buildings and homes with large roof areas to drain and or long roof valleys and or numerous corners for the water to navigate around to reach a downspout.
I think gutter sealant will be a lot more practical.
6 gutters provide extra capacity while maintaining a clean look.
You will need to track down a specialized solder or brazing alloy intended for use on aluminum or for joining aluminum to a different metal depending on your project.
If we want the gutters to last long enough to patina solder is the low or no maintenance solution.
Aluminum gutters seem less physically robust than galvanized steel but i have never seen one fail by corrosion.
A gutter would be nearly impossible to solder even if it was new and clean.
Soldering galvanized requires vigorous abrasive cleaning.
Professionally installed seamless aluminum gutters and do it yourself steel or aluminum systems available at the retail level.
I ve got to add a piece of gutter below a roof valley to allow it to drain into an adjacent gutter and figured soldering would be the best way to go.
Soldering has long been the standard trade practice for joining seams in copper gutter and copper roofing applications.
Regards ted mooney p e.
Actually aluminum can be soldered with aluminum solder.