Author	[Modern View]
Joel59 01-18-2013 08:37:00 168.169.225.4 Report to Moderator	I have a hobart 187 mig welder and use 75/25 bottle mix. I need to clean up an old weld on a caterpillar bell housing. It was at one time welded while on the machine, and now it is removed. This will allow a better repair- I hope! I would think the housing is cast steel? What is the best method for doing this with my equipment? Thanks. [Reply]   [No Email]
dr sportster 01-19-2013 11:22:47 68.192.200.105 Report to Moderator	Re: Mig weld cast steel? in reply to Joel59, 01-18-2013 08:37:00   "You" would think it is cast steel but it is really gotta be cast iron and not cast steel. MIG is on the list for cast iron repair [maybe not the best choice but it could work].Make a copy 0f Puddles chart to mount by your grinder. George from MD does not approve of my response. { I know from past posts that he preffers Oxy/acet for iron repair]. [Reply]  [No Email]
RodInNS 01-19-2013 10:16:28 216.118.158.123 Report to Moderator	Re: Mig weld cast steel? in reply to Joel59, 01-18-2013 08:37:00   I would expect a bellhousing to be ductile cast iron... If it had to be arc welded I think I'd use a Sodel 35 rod on DC+. Rod [Reply]  [No Email]
dboll 01-18-2013 17:29:47 209.23.168.28 Report to Moderator	Re: Mig weld cast steel? in reply to Joel59, 01-18-2013 08:37:00   probably not applicable here but the local welding shop always told me if you can cut it with a torch then you can mig weld it [Reply]  [No Email]
Stan in Oly, WA 01-19-2013 18:27:31 174.31.197.172 Report to Moderator	Re: Mig weld cast steel? in reply to dboll, 01-18-2013 17:29:47   Hi dboll, While that's technically true, you have to be good enough with a cutting torch to be able to tell the difference between cutting and just burning through and blasting the molten metal out of the cut with the jet of high pressure oxygen. Cast iron can be cut with oxy/fuel in much the same way ferrous metal can be cut with a welding rod under desperate circumstances. Many people use a cutting torch so poorly that there wouldn't be much difference in the appearance of cutting through steel and burning through cast iron. Stan [Reply]  [No Email]
55deere70 01-18-2013 14:25:36 75.138.191.254 Report to Moderator	Re: Mig weld cast steel? in reply to Joel59, 01-18-2013 08:37:00   How do you tell if it is cast steel or cast iron? [Reply]  [No Email]
Puddles 01-18-2013 15:07:58 24.113.77.208 Report to Moderator	Re: Mig weld cast steel? in reply to 55deere70, 01-18-2013 14:25:36   Here you go. [Reply]  [No Email]
Joel59 01-19-2013 06:04:08 67.140.72.161 Report to Moderator	Re: Mig weld cast steel? in reply to Puddles, 01-18-2013 15:07:58   Thanks for the valuable information. This sounds interesting, so I would like to do some spark testing. Would a 4" hand held angle grinder be sufficient? Also, if I am understanding correctly, my housing would either be gray cast iron or alloy steel as per the diagrams you supplied? Thanks again. Joel [Reply]  [No Email]
welding man 01-18-2013 14:18:10 76.9.225.68 Report to Moderator	Re: Mig weld cast steel? in reply to Joel59, 01-18-2013 08:37:00   First,you need to determine if it cast iron or cast steel.Do you know how to do that? I'm with George, personally never seen too many cast steel bell housings. [Reply]  [No Email]
george md 01-18-2013 11:38:41 209.213.167.201 Report to Moderator	Re: Mig weld cast steel? in reply to Joel59, 01-18-2013 08:37:00   Joel, If it is cast steel , it will weld with 7018 quite well. But Cat is too cheap to use cast steel in a bell housing, it's most likely cast iron and an oven preheat and oxy/acet weld with cast iron in stick form would be best . george [Reply]  [No Email]
JOB 01-18-2013 17:23:40 74.36.134.248 Report to Moderator	Re: Mig weld cast steel? in reply to george md, 01-18-2013 11:38:41   George, what do you use for your cast? Is it the square cast rod or do you use the round 1/8 inch tig rod. I have a small cast job and tried to buy some square cast rod, I was quoted a price of $20.00 a pound and had to buy a full box. The piece I want to weld is not worth that. I have a little Tig rod on hand. That should be use able with Oxygen/Acetylene???? [Reply]  [No Email]
george md 01-18-2013 18:15:51 209.213.167.201 Report to Moderator	Re: Mig weld cast steel? in reply to JOB, 01-18-2013 17:23:40   Job, Yes ,I use the square rod, I buy it in 50 lb boxes , it's 8.00/lb . last time I ordered 50 of 3/16 & 50 of 1/4 , ouch. If you need some send me an email with a phone # and I'll call you. george [Reply]  [No Email]
JOB 01-19-2013 03:19:15 74.36.134.248 Report to Moderator	Re: Mig weld cast steel? in reply to george md, 01-18-2013 18:15:51   I just called one place when I asked about cast rod. He said that only one supplier in the metro area has cast rod. I live in a large metropolitan area, it is hard to believe that only one supplier had cast rod. I will call a few others. After seeing the work you have done on stuff I have had no to little luck with you convinced me that oxygen/acetylene is the way to weld cast. The piece I have to weld is not a rush, but if I can't find cast rod locally, reasonably I will get a hold of you. Thanks [Reply]  [No Email]
sflem849 01-18-2013 11:21:27 69.197.84.39 Report to Moderator	Re: Mig weld cast steel? in reply to Joel59, 01-18-2013 08:37:00   Stick Welding forgot more than I will ever know, but I have always seen more success in stick welding cast than mig welding. As long as it is off you can take it where it needs to go pretty easily. This post was edited by sflem849 at 11:21:42 01/18/13. [Reply]  [No Email]
Stick welding 01-18-2013 18:24:15 96.53.210.246 Report to Moderator	Re: Mig weld cast steel? in reply to sflem849, 01-18-2013 11:21:27   If he had a choice, I would agree stick welding (7018) would be better but MIG is still basically a low hydrogen process and if done right would work on cast steel. That's why I said to preheat and burn hot, so you don't get cold lap. A bell housing could be cast iron. In that case you'd need to follow more detailed procedures. [Reply]  [No Email]
Stick welding 01-18-2013 09:36:05 198.53.25.107 Report to Moderator	Re: Mig weld cast steel? in reply to Joel59, 01-18-2013 08:37:00   If it is cast steel, grind it out, preheat it(300-400 deg's.) and run your 187 hot to repair it. [Reply]  [No Email]