Welding Cast Iron

37chief · Apr 12, 2012

Has anyone used cast iron rod that is dipped in flux,(red Color) kind of like brazing rod. This process is done with a torch for repairing cast iron? Stan

mjsnodgrass · Apr 12, 2012

30 years ago, i did alot of it. if i remember right, i used peterson flux but i thimk it was blue.

Rick Kr · Apr 12, 2012

Yes and my welds looked terrible, and performed even worse.

Never have had good luck with cast with any welding style. Yet, MIG, TIG, stick and oxy/act I can weld like a pro steel and aluminum.

Rick

dej(Jed) · Apr 12, 2012

(quoted from post at 22:00:48 04/11/12) Has anyone used cast iron rod that is dipped in flux,(red Color) kind of like brazing rod. This process is done with a torch for repairing cast iron? Stan

I have had a lot of luck welding engine block pieces in with Ni rod. It took
a bit of instruction, but what I was taught is as follows. I would heat a section of the block and piece cheery red with a torch. Don't try to heat the whole thing, but about a 6 to 8 inch section. Next weld the section with the Ni rod and then immediately cool it with a sponge and cold water.
Next move on and repeat the process until the whole patch is in place and welded. Cast is porus and the heating seems to facilitate the weld holding. If I just welded , the weld would split as it cooled .

Brad_bb · Apr 12, 2012

Not a direct answer to your question...
Last year I had a bunch of cast iron parts repaired via spray welding at
http://www.castmetalwelding.com/
They were great! I had cracked parts, broken ears etc. They added metal and reshaped the piece correctly without using the original broken off ear on two parts too. They did an excellent job and I thought the cost was very reasonable. The parts I sent were not exhaust parts(high heat cycled). Some of those old exhaused manifolds are so heat cycled, I think they've absorbed carbon, and become brittle.
They apparently do engines and parts too.

SMinWi · Apr 12, 2012

(quoted from post at 06:00:48 04/12/12) Has anyone used cast iron rod that is dipped in flux,(red Color) kind of like brazing rod. This process is done with a torch for repairing cast iron? Stan

I saw my dad weld cast iron like that lots of times. Sometimes he used old piston rings.

george md · Apr 12, 2012

Stan,

The rods and flux that you mention are the
best way to repair cast iron, on heavy sections
or flat areas you will need much preheat minimum
of 900 and best at 1200 deg F in fire brick oven,
and needs post heat of 1500 and slow cool from
1500 to 1200 (half hour). A fast drop in temp from 1500 to 1200 will harden the cast and make
it nonmachinable also makes it brittle and more
likely to crack. The preheat,post heat , and
slow cooling is why arc weld usually fails as
the area around the weld is cool and sucks the
heat away from the weld and surrounding area
causing it to harden and become less ductile.
great recipe for cracks .
Below is a link to website , and the hot link
is to the photo host. There you can see many
things repaired with O/A cast iron welding.

http://www.georgemillermachine.com/

george
cast iron repair etc

teddy52food · Apr 12, 2012

Yes, old piston rings work good as they are a very fine grade of cast.

Welding Cast Iron

37chief

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mjsnodgrass

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Rick Kr

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dej(Jed)

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Brad_bb

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SMinWi

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george md

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teddy52food

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