- Tue Apr 24, 2018 3:54 pm
#76132
Epoxy is certainly a good option but I'd personally pick JB weld over araldite. I've seen holed crankcases and stripped drain plugs repaired with JB weld. It's a thickened epoxy and metal coloured.
Another option is you could thicken the araldite by adding some aluminium powder, this will make it a better colour match, less likely to run (more like applying tile grout than a runny adhesive) and more resistant to degradation in sunlight. You need a surprisingly small ratio of epoxy to thickener. Aim for a consistancy similar to peanut butter. It may, perversely, help to open out that area of damage slightly with a small burr so you have more surface area to fill. If it's full thickness, drill a small hole at the "point" of the crack to prevent it actuang as a stress riser and propogating further
Another option is to use a low temperature aluminium solder like lumiweld or durafix. You'll need a good source of heat for a casing like that, a blowlamp wont do it. If you haven't used such stuff before, practice on some scrap first so you don't just blow holes in it. Lots of videos on youtube on its use.
Another option is you could thicken the araldite by adding some aluminium powder, this will make it a better colour match, less likely to run (more like applying tile grout than a runny adhesive) and more resistant to degradation in sunlight. You need a surprisingly small ratio of epoxy to thickener. Aim for a consistancy similar to peanut butter. It may, perversely, help to open out that area of damage slightly with a small burr so you have more surface area to fill. If it's full thickness, drill a small hole at the "point" of the crack to prevent it actuang as a stress riser and propogating further
Another option is to use a low temperature aluminium solder like lumiweld or durafix. You'll need a good source of heat for a casing like that, a blowlamp wont do it. If you haven't used such stuff before, practice on some scrap first so you don't just blow holes in it. Lots of videos on youtube on its use.


