[TheForge] welding question

[Andy Vida]

Mark & Sylvia Mondloch wrote:
> 
> I'm sure the bell is full of internal stresses .It was in the bell tower
> which was acting as a chimney for the fire when it was hit by LOTS of water
> from the fire department.There is a crack that goes almost all the way
> around the bell about 1/3 down from the top.Also 2 large cracks from the
> bottom rim up to that crack.Also smaller cracks off of those.It is on the
> verge of falling into pieces.The church is not going to be rebuilt and they
> want to use the bell as a marker.Is there any kind of glue or epoxy that
> could be used on the inside to hold it together?

	Wow, that sounds pretty bad.  Do the cracks go all the way
	to the inside?  If so, perhaps you can drill, say, 3/8" deep
	blind holes in strategic locations on the INSIDE of the bell
	and plug weld them with nickel rod.  This would essentially
	glue the major parts together well enough to allow it to serve
	as a monument.  I'm not sure this would be enough to hold so
	large and object together, so  you might have to have a few
	plugs welded outside as well to equalize the holding forces.
	The nickel rod will be shiney, but I can opint you in the direction
	of a really good nickel patina that will take care of that
	particular problem. 

	Another cracked idea, no pun intended: would they consider using
	the bell as a pattern from which to have another one cast?  Just
	a random thought.  It would be a nice way to go.