[TheForge] welding question

[Andy Vida]

Mark & Sylvia Mondloch wrote:
> 
> A month or so ago lightning hit the local church and it burned.The bell was saved but it is cracked pretty badly.Does anyone have a suggestion
> for welding?The bell weighs about 1000 pounds.They are never going to ring it again but want to use it in a monument.The cracks seem to be getting worse and they would like it done before it comes apart completely.Any suggestions?

	If the cracks are propagating of their own, that's probably 
	due to internal stresses in the castings.  I would locate
	all the cracks and drill a hole at the end of each one to
	terminate them.  This provides a larger area over which
	the stresses will be distributed and should stop the progress.
	As to diameter, that is hard to say without seeing the bell.

	If it won't be used again, I might suggest leaving it alone
	as it is.  If you want a little added insurance, drill one
	more hole at the starting end of each crack (I'm assuming 
	they have all started at the rim) perhaps 1" from the rim,
	introduce a steel rod cut to the right length, and braze
	it in place.  This will stabilise the crack on its most
	vulnerable end.  I believe somethign simialr was done with
	the Liberty Bell.

	Sounds like you may want to get to it sooner than later.

	Best wishes.

	-Andy