rod of choice for cast iron on AC?

[yomax4]

AC Nickel is a tough weld but there is hope. There is a Synthetic Nickel rod called Nickel Free that is made by a company called MG. When it works it is the Best Cast rod. When it doesn't, Its the worst but it runs good on AC or DC and costs 1/2 of NI55.65,94 or 99..Other than that yop will have to pay to get it repaired. Good luck...

 

[dex3361]

Preheat and NI rod I has worked well for me. I also have heard that the best steel rod is a 7018AC. Preheat weld peen and then slow cool is supposed to produce a stronger weld than NI rod. I have not tried it personally though.

 

[yomax4]

7018, 6013,9010,7024, all the Mild Steel rods are not a good choice for cast. That is why there is NI Rod. Otherwise everyone would Mig Weld it. You can Mig Weld it with NI Wire.,Works Awesome at $30.00# on a 33# spool. Brazing Rod will work better than the above mentioned Stick Rods. Or a NI Silver mix like Harris 14FC. Remember PL400 or Liquid Nails will even work if there is no stress or heat involved.

 

[Soundguy]

Preheat and NI rod I has worked well for me. I also have heard that the best steel rod is a 7018AC. Preheat weld peen and then slow cool is supposed to produce a stronger weld than NI rod. I have not tried it personally though.

I have some 7018ac.. will try it on my next project.

soundguy

 

[dex3361]

I have some 7018ac.. will try it on my next project.

soundguy

Let us know how it turns out.

 

[6sunset6]

It has been a long time since I welded Cast iron. the pre heat and post slow cool is right. I remember there are two kinds of rod. One is machinable and the other you can make multiple passes. I think . It was a looong time ago. There is probably newer rod now.
I still have some of that multiple pass rod.

 

[Turbo]

some info for you.

http://www.locknstitch.com/expansion_contraction.htm

http://www.locknstitch.com/CastIronWelding.htm This one explains the problems

Guidelines for Welding Cast Iron | Lincoln Electric

 

[magicheater]

GREAT Links!! Thanx!!

 

[Raspy]

ni-rod is a nice generic term and it works well on cast iron. I use stainless steel rod in 309/316. This is a high nickel rod. It just works wonders on all steels and cast iron. Use it only with AC.

I built two trailers, a pipe rack, shortened a pitman arm on my truck and modified some structural building steel framing with 309/316 and have bever seen any stress cracks. My favorite rod.

I recently welded some mild steel angle iron onto a farm disk that was very hard and crystaline. It would not accept 6011 or 7018 without cracking, but the 309 worked perfectly. I also broke off my drill press table that was cast iron and welded it back together wth the 309. Excellent. Long ago I used it to weld bailer needles back together. No preheating with any of these.

But an engine block is a different story. Heating probably won't help because they have such a complicated internal shape and are so thin and thick. I couldn't make it work. Also, any distorsion that results might be bad for alignment.

 

[magicheater]

ni-rod is a nice generic term and it works well on cast iron. I use stainless steel rod in 309/316. This is a high nickel rod. It just works wonders on all steels and cast iron. Use it only with AC.

MORE good info! I'll have to look into that rod, had not heard of it before.