[TheForge] Brooms and Welding Cast

[Tod Estes]

Hi Bill and everyone else,
Please dont take this as sarcasm but strange is it may sound it is really
called "cast iron rod" There is also specific cast iron flux.
"...Welding is performed using a neutral flame and applying a cast-iron
welding rod with the backhand technique.  Fluxing is employed sparingly as
warranted by the presence of impurities, or to increase wetting of the
deposit.  While there are prefluxed welding rods available most welders
prefer to apply flux by dipping the hot welding rod into the flux and
transferring the flux into the weld as required to overcome momentary
difficulties." It goes on to say the medium to high velocity torch tips
are preferred. "In actual deposition of the welding rod the inner cone of
the flame is directed against the tip of the welding rod melting it off at
the rate indicated by the wetting of the deposited metal. The preferred
technique is to deposit the weld in layers not exceeding 1/8 inch thick
The filler metal is cast iron in the shape of square or round cast bars
the composition of these welding rods is usually controlled so that thier
melting point is at the lowest level practicable and so that they are free
of nonmetalic inclusions and low in both phosphorus and sulfer."

quoted from Welding handbook third edition (1950) pgs. 588, 589.

Sorry but I dont own a newer edition of this book, Its a hand me down from
grandpa. They had the rod in 1950, wonder if they still make it?
> Jon,
>
> I'd like to know exactly what that rod is, anyone know?
>
> Regards,
> Bill Woolley
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jonathan Nedbor" <jonned at hvc.rr.com>
> To: <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Friday, December 09, 2005 9:47 AM
> Subject: [TheForge] Brooms and Welding Cast
>
>
>> Thanks for all the leads on the brooms. Appreciate it .......
>>
>> As for welding cast iron, after I read the info on the "metal stiching"
>> website I'm amazed that I was ever able to weld cast iron successfully.
>> I
>> have avoided using the nickel arc rod, as I find it looks terrible and
>> is
>> a different color (which matters for some things).
>>
>> I don't know the name of the rod I use - someone out there will probably
>> know - it is about 1/4" square and looks like cast iron ie. "pebbly"
>> surface and mold marks. It is even brittle like cast. This stuff flows
>> great with TIG or torch. I have built up, modeled, broken/missing parts
>> with it, joined large pieces, etc. I even used it for an antique cast
>> pedestrian gate that had been badly broken in a attempted robbery.
>>
>> I have preheated and not preheated my repairs with success. I recommend
>> the preheat - till the piece glows dull orange - and welding while hot,
>> stopping to reheat if necessary. It is important to "V" out the weld
>> area
>> to get good penetration and as Ralph mentioned to leave a little of the
>> original mating surfaces to "key" the positioning.
>>
>>
>> I have found that there have been some things that I could not
>> successfully weld, I think that the items were exposed to extended
>> periods
>> of heat in their lifetime, such as some old cast andirons and engine
>> parts - the weld area seems to keep "running" away, the liquid area
>> keeps
>> receding.
>>
>> One question I have, someone mentioned that the preheat should use
>> diesel
>> or nat. gas, not propane? I have used a large Johnson propane forge and
>> my
>> coal fire for my preheating with no problems.
>>
>> Got a foot of snow outside and still coming down! Do I go skiing or stay
>> home and be responsible and work - tough choice!
>>
>> Jon Nedbor
>>
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>
> _______________________________________________
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Tod Estes
Oologah Smithy
Oologah,Oklahoma. (Home of Will Rogers.)
Saltfork Craftsmen ABA, ABANA
Time enough for sleep in the grave.

"Prometheus: I took from man expectancy of death.
Chorus: What medicine found'st thou for this
        malady?
Prometheus: I planted blind hope in the heart of
           him.
Chorus: A mighty boon thou gavest there to man.
Prometheus: Moreover, I conferred the gift of fire
Chorus: And have frail mortals now the flame-
        bright fire.
Prometheus: yes, and shall master many arts
            thereby."