welding ccast iron

irishred42

New User
I have an old platform grain scale with a broken corner
on the cast iron platform. Can it be welded, or a type of
epozy glue. Looking for ideas.
 
Can it be welded maybe. Will it hold maybe. If one can get that part of it in an oven your better off then just trying to do it cold. I would use Ni-Rod on it but then I have also welded for a living so done a whole lot of welding over the years
 
MIG is an acceptable repair for iron. Ni- rod can work too. George from Md. will come on and not like these methods but he is set up for oxy/acet welding of cast the proper way. Sometimes you just have to wing it with ni-rod and will get good results. It can also be brazed and smoothed out for paint if that will work for you.
 
I agree with what Old said and will add you might preheat it with a gas grill, have done that. Weld short sections, maybe an inch at a time, let that cool for a minute, peen to stress relive, then weld more. Keep preheating, cool slowly, maybe by turning gas grill down a little at a time if using that.
 
For that kind of job I would braze it if color is not a problem, if it is then I would use Nomacast rod. It's cheaper than nickle and matches color better and should work well with tthat type cast.
 
Is it cast iron or cast steel.

Take a grinder to it to see the color of the sparks.

If the sparks are similar to the same color as grinding steel, weld it. It is cast steel.

If they are not the same color as steel sparks it is cast iron. Braze it.

I have successfully weld cast iron as well with a wire welder.

I use the cold weld method. Weld small amounts at a time let it cool and go again. never get the cast iron get very not. Pean the weld between weld periods.

There is an JD engine block the was cracked on the outside leaking water. Welded it with the cold weld method 20 years ago and it is still going with no leaks.

Gary
 
Had some rod called Brutus that was good to weld cast with I read about some rod called 777 that's supposed to be good
 
If it's cast iron I would find a good professional welder do it. The metal needs to be heated prior to welding and prevented from cooling too fast when you are done. I bought a piece of machinery last year that was brazed and done poorly and I can't find anyone to fix it. In any case cast can be fickled. You could have two identical parts and one could weld easily and the other a nightmare.
 
I have done a lot of both brazing and welding of cast iron.
Both work in different applications.
I think brazing takes a bit less knowledge and it takes less sophisticated equipment.
But it takes a bit more skill to make a nice job of it because you don't often grind it off afterwards like you would welding.

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Like the idea of using a gas grill(oven) to keep the heat on. I have also used kitty litter, floor dry many times. Bury the part in it getting as close to the welding area as possible. Preheat the part before totally covering it. Do the weld and let it cool out. the kitty litter is a great insulator. If it has been around oil or grease it will have to be heated and cook the oils out or the extra carbon from the oils will increase it's brittleness. Another rod not mentioned in Forney X-1000.

I have a harbor freight vise that I am going to try to weld the swivel base, ha. the metal looks like it was cast with water in it.
 
That is what my dad always told me. Weld small amounts and dont get it too hot. Try to keep it cool enough that you can lay your hand on it. Probably at least on and off. Ive always tried to do it that way and it does work.
 

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