cast iron repair

[jpdriver1]

howdy fellow members, I am in need of suggestions for repairing a broken cast iron drill press.

JB weld, liquid steel ect...

thanks

 

[denchen]

I have welded cast iron in the past but the trouble is when it cools, it can sometimes crack. The answer is to heat it and get it really hot before welding, then let it cool slowly. I would be tempted to ask around to see if a local guy can weld it. JB Weld etc might not last long.

 

[WranglerX]

Depending on break and use of press, I have serious doubts any "glues" are going to work... A good welder (arc) with cast iron rod and pre heat and extended cooling can probably fix it, and another possible fix may be to have it oxy/acet brazed with "brass" rod again proper preheat and slow cooling is necessary....

A picture of "break" my help to get proper advice on fix...

Dale

 

[pmsmechanic]

I've had excellent results welding cast iron with ArcTec 223 welding rods.They have 28% stretch which means the cast doesn't crack. I would warm up the cast piece to weld it and then after welding cover the piece with insulation to let it cool slowly overnight.

 

[Rebeldad1]

if you like your drill press and want it 100% ... 2 choices

find a replacement part

send it to a cast iron repair shop. I have sent out a couple parts and both came back perfect and looked like new parts.
Not cheap. have to pay shipping both ways but its fixed.

 

[John0829]

I have had excellent results welding cast with nickle rods, weld 3/4 to 1" and walk away till it cools then do another until it is all sewn up. 20 years ago I built a bell housing for an old M715 5/4 military truck so we could installed a 250ci Chevy in place of the OEM engine, still going strong the last I heard.

 

[TheRealWorld]

John0829 is exactly right, and use even shorter segments of weld if you have a small area of repair. This works well and you can youtube it.

 

[fried1765]

I've had excellent results welding cast iron with ArcTec 223 welding rods.They have 28% stretch which means the cast doesn't crack. I would warm up the cast piece to weld it and then after welding cover the piece with insulation to let it cool slowly overnight.

I have an antique wood stove with a very thin C.I. door.
Is it likely that those ArcTec 223 rods would work?
I would not attempt it, but could perhaps ship it to someone who could do a proper weld repair.
C.I. is only about 1/4"- 3/8" thick.

 

[fried1765]

if you like your drill press and want it 100% ... 2 choices

find a replacement part

send it to a cast iron repair shop. I have sent out a couple parts and both came back perfect and looked like new parts.
Not cheap. have to pay shipping both ways but its fixed.

Do you have an address/phone number for that shop?

 

[PILOON]

Around here we have an old time blacksmith welder that has done miracles for me.
He seems to like OxyAcc for cast iron vs Mig/Tig.
He's fixed many things 4 me including an exhaust manifold that he welded in situ.
That was on my father's car that I borrowed and even 3 years later Dad never was aware of my mishap.
I also watched him repair an aluminum water tank for my RV with the torches.
He was a true artisan!

With the torches I guess that addresses the preheating issue and the brass flows just nicely.
Actually I once researched the PSI's and brazing joints are really high up there compared to Mig/Tig and fancy rods.

Now I'm a DIY welder (torches and rod) and with proper heat and penetration so far none of my joint have let go.
Not all pretty but I do get decent penetration.
Like trailer hitches, frame repairs and all sorts of crazy concoctions.
I grind, clean and use high amps to get things really glued together.
When I see nice heat lines on the backside of my work pieces (and ,LOL, no burn thru's) I know the pieces will stay glued.

LOL, my first welder was a homemade converted stepdown transformer.
Heck I've made a few just for fun by re winding old found transformers.
Last DIY was using a large garage booster charger as I liked the core design.
Being a 110 charger the welding output is limited to 3/32 rods but it works and stick stuff together. Not to build bridges.