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GarryinNC 03-02-2013 18:22:39 66.226.59.242 Report to Moderator	Are square baler needles made of cast iron, cast steel or forged steel? Is there even such a thing as 'cast steel'. My dad has welded several over the years with nickel rod and they look like cast iron when they break. They have always held. Just wondering. Garry [Reply]   [No Email]
Andy Moncman 03-04-2013 13:40:21 64.12.117.79 Report to Moderator	Re: Baler Needle Material in reply to GarryinNC, 03-02-2013 18:22:39   Hit it with a grinder if throws alot of sparks it is cast steel a few sparks and alot of dust cast iron. [Reply]  [No Email]
Ed in KY 03-04-2013 11:28:31 74.247.133.4 Report to Moderator	Re: Baler Needle Material in reply to GarryinNC, 03-02-2013 18:22:39   I have a MF 124 that needs knotter and needle work. One of the needles is bent on the tip. About 2" of the tip is bent. Has anyone had any luck heating and trying to straighten? Thanks in advance [Reply]  [No Email]
Ken Macfarlane 03-04-2013 08:01:22 142.166.168.2 Report to Moderator	Re: Baler Needle Material in reply to GarryinNC, 03-02-2013 18:22:39   Later MF's are stamped steel. [Reply]  [No Email]
randy hall 03-03-2013 17:25:33 216.201.49.113 Report to Moderator	Re: Baler Needle Material in reply to GarryinNC, 03-02-2013 18:22:39   most of them are made of mallable cast iron, i would doubt that any baler needles are made of cast steel. there is a lot of cast iron still being made are used today. it is alot cheaper to make and machine than cast steel. [Reply]  [No Email]
rankrank1 03-02-2013 18:48:59 198.228.228.143 Report to Moderator	Re: Baler Needle Material in reply to MF Poor, 03-02-2013 18:22:39   GarryinNC said: (quoted from post at 03:22:39 03/03/13) Are square baler needles made of cast iron, cast steel or forged steel? Is there even such a thing as 'cast steel'. My dad has welded several over the years with nickel rod and they look like cast iron when they break. They have always held. Just wondering. Garry I do not think any would be forged steel. I imagine most to be either Cast Iron or Cast Steel depending on manufacturer. Many needles have been repaired over the years by brazing or welding with Ni-Rod, Special Cast Rod, Stainless Rod good for dissimilar metals, 7018 if in a pinch, and even 6011 if real desperate. Success or failure on the improvised repairs will be more likely if you know the base metal so.....do a spark test (here is the basic of how to do a spark test) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFf_x97vcQ0 This post was edited by rankrank1 at 18:54:02 03/02/13. [Reply]  [No Email]
Bret4207 03-03-2013 04:37:36 64.19.90.196 Report to Moderator	Re: Baler Needle Material in reply to rankrank1, 03-02-2013 18:48:59   I've been told and read in several industry magazines that there is very, very little actual cast iron anymore. Cast steel, yeah, lots of it. I've also been told that NH's needles are a tempered and machined cast steel alloy . I got the impression that meant the basic part is cast and then machined to final shape then tempered. All I know for sure is lots of broken needles have been repaired by brazing and welding with equal failure and success. Any well done joining seems to hold up. Poorly done work tends to break again. This post was edited by Bret4207 at 04:38:09 03/03/13. [Reply]  [No Email]
Tx Jim 03-03-2013 04:59:53 67.142.163.22 Report to Moderator	Re: Baler Needle Material in reply to Bret4207, 03-03-2013 04:37:36   I think sq baler needles are cast steel. [Reply]  [No Email]
Larry NEIL 03-03-2013 17:17:21 76.203.21.193 Report to Moderator	Re: Baler Needle Material in reply to Tx Jim, 03-03-2013 04:59:53   Later replacement Oliver were aluminum. [Reply]  [No Email]