Welding Cast Iron?

[MontanaMan]

Hello:

I broke a cast iron collar (About 1/4" thick) by turning the bolt too tight.



Can it be welded? I have a 230 Volt Mig welder that can produce up to 120 Amps of current, and I have .030" flux core wire for welding steel.

I've never tried to weld cast iron before, and I don't have any scraps to practice on. I don't even know if cast iron can be welded.

Any advice? Thanks!!

[MAC702]

First, is it worth repairing? How expensive is it to just replace?

If it must be repaired, I would vee out the crack on both sides. Preheat in the propane grill and weld, peening it between passes. Bury in ashes, sawdust, or dirt to slowly cool it.

Best results will be with a nickel or stainless wire with a shielding gas, but your existing wire can work.

Is this structural, or must it take pressure?

[MontanaMan]

Welding Cast Iron?

Hi:

Thanks for the fast response. I can't replace it. It's from an imported drill press that isn't made any more. It doesn't really take any stress. I just need to be able to tighten it on the DP Quill so that it will move the depth adjuster shaft up and down.

Your advice sounds good. Did you recommend those special procedures because its Cast Iron, or would you also recommend that for steel?

Again, thanks for your help. I don't usually break things like this.

[MontanaMan]

Another possibility ... I also have an Oxy-Acetyline torch. Would it be better to braze the joint? If so, would you recommend bronze or silver brazing rod?

Thanks for your help.

[aametalmaster]

Is that a lathe faceplate it is sitting on? You can turn a new one on a lathe from steel and weld all the ears on. I need to make one also for my el cheapo drill press except mine is plastic...Bob

[MontanaMan]

Is that a lathe faceplate it is sitting on? You can turn a new one on a lathe from steel and weld all the ears on. I need to make one also for my el cheapo drill press except mine is plastic...Bob

Thanks for answering. No ... unfortunately, I don't have a lathe. That's a drill press table, and the collar is off of the drill press. If you are making one, would you be willing to make two while you are at it? I can weld the tabs myself. I can send you the specs for my piece. And I'll be happy to pay you some money for it too :-)

Let me know what you think.

[aametalmaster]

Yes i will make it...Bob [email protected]

[Danny]

If Bob doesnt have time, I could help you out on that too.
just athought , but you could make a short outer band out to the ears and attach it with very small screws, but then it may just break where you drill and tap ?

[HMW]

There are some really nice people on here to make stuff for each other.

[SkidSteerSteve]

There are some really nice people on here to make stuff for each other.

In a world so concerned with the bottom line, it is nice to still see people wanted to help a neighbor out....even if it is across the country!

[aametalmaster]

99% of the work i do online and for my friends and neighbors i do for free. The only time i charge is for the products i sell online, the broken stuff is free. I already have a good job so its my way to either teach someone else how to or to just pass my skill and knowlage. Plus it keeps my brain fresh . I just love to tinker...Bob

[MontanaMan]

Thank you for your help.

Hey ... I just want to say thanks very much for the help, and I'm sorry I didn't check back here in the last few days ... I've been chasing my tail 16 hrs/day. I hope this doesn't create the impression I wasn't appreciative, because I think it's really fantastic that you guys are willing to help out.

Bob ... I just sent you an email about the part.

Also, for everyone on this forum, I have written some software that speeds up people's internet access, and I'd like to give any of you a free copy if you would like it. You can get it from my website at: http://www.montanasoft.com. Send me an email from the website, and tell me you are from the miller welding forum, and I'll send you a registration number that will unlock the 30-day trial limitations so that you can keep and use the software forever. I put in a lot of 20-hour days making that program, but I know its not the same as making something solid :-)

Again, thanks. And if there is anything I can ever do to help anyone, please let me know.

-Rob

[jfsmith]

MM,

If you had a stick welder of some type, I have really great nickle rods for welding cast iron, I would have sent you 3, one to figure what this type welding about, one to get yourself comfortable and one to do the job. You would have yo file the weld area and true the ring up.

This happened to an old Craftsman drill press that I had.

Jerry

[MontanaMan]

MM,

If you had a stick welder of some type, I have really great nickle rods for welding cast iron,

Jerry

Wow ... thanks for the offer ... this forum is really amazing. You know ... I used to have a cheapo Montgomery Wards 50-amp stick welder about 15 years ago, but that is 2500 miles away in my parent's garage back east. :-)

But thanks anyway for the offer ...

[MontanaMan]

This isn't strictly about welding, but since you guys are so cool, I thought you might be interested in some other projects I have going:

This Drill press is a cheapo 15" chinese model I got second hand for cheap. I has some quill slop, so I'm going to cut a slit halfway up the head and run a horizontal bolt through to adjust the bore size of the cast iron landing around the quill ... should be extremely solid after that.

I'm also working on building a bigger air compressor (about 25 cfm @ 90 psi) for low bucks: watching ebay and craigslist for compressor pumps and motors, and I'll use an old galvanized steel water pump tank for the air tank.
Those old-style water tanks are massively heavy ... definitely strong enough to handle 150 psi.

I have the pressure switch, guages, regulator, etc. from my old tiny air compressor.

We have a scrap yard in town that has these old tanks and sometimes old motors.

Anyway ... take care, and good luck with all of your projects.