Thread: Repairing Cast iron

If its cast it will have a rough structure, and a broken section will look almost aerated in its composition, to weld is tricky, I use a tig and a hammer to stress relieve,

Brazing is probably the best method... To fix gouges etc, use devcon...

Ian
Can you can post a couple of pics of the problem areas? you will get a lot more specific advice on how to correct them.

regards
bollie7

When cleaning up me new Chinese H/F thicknesser, I found what looks to be solder in one corner of the table to fill a void.
Then after cleaning up some of my new/old shaper, I found a spot on the bottom of the knee way with the same. I believe the shaper was made back around 1920-40.
So it looks like the manufacturers have used this for years to fill small voids, might work in your case to fill the gouges.
As for the welding, there are some very talented welding people on here that can instruct you on the best fix, might also be worth a post in the welding section.
Dave

Originally Posted by Godzilla98

1/ How do you tell what is cast and what is 'steel'. (I'm guessing this is cast by the mould)
(And does anyone have a chart of the different 'types' of steel???)

2/ How do you repair cracks / fill gouges in cast iron. I have heard a lot of remedies such as arc with std, / 'cast' / stainless rods, or MIG / TIG, bronzing etc.

Q1
In a place where it will do minimal harm touch it with the angle grinder.
If it is steel sparks are yellow orange with long sprigs. If cast iron sparks are red with short sprigs.

Q2 Cast iron welds and cools VERY differntly to steel.Be prepared to heat the whole of the unit so cooling is even.
The cracks I won't comment on until more info is posted on the length depth and location of them.

With due respect to our brethen here, its not a thing to risk to amatuer advice.I spent half of my apprenticeship welding CI at the premier shop (for welding CI)so I have had the experience to comment.

Do you know which one of the the several types it may be ? Brazing with tobin bronze- at least that what we used, is a better fix for cosmetic stuff like gouges.

As far as welding is concerned it is done as a procedure or not at all.If you get the heat input imbalanced you are very likely to suffer a crack where section go from thick to thin.It doesn't stretch or distort like steel if it cools unevenly -it cracks.

If you have to ask bout repairs its best left to some one who can do it.

Can you post pictures please?

Grahame

Thanks all,

As I suspected - not quite that straightforward. However some great info to date and I will take some pic's tommorow and post up so we can be a bit more specific.

Thanks

Ian