[TheForge] welding question

[Larry and Pat Brown]

Drill holes on opposite sides of the cracks and put rivets through that 
stick out the other side (Countersink and peen if you don't want them very 
visible) then weld bars between the rivets on the inside. Place on ground, 
do not hang or stand under.
L Brown

At 09:09 PM 7/8/2004 -0500, you 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?
>
>
>---
>Mark & Sylvia Mondloch
>Silver Creek Pottery & Forge
>W6725 Hwy 144
>Random Lake ,Wi 53075
>HotArt at silvercreekpottery.com
>http://www.silvercreekpottery.com
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Andy Vida" <osan at netlabs.net>
>To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
>Sent: Thursday, July 08, 2004 8:41 PM
>Subject: Re: [TheForge] welding question
>
>
> >
> >
> > 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
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