Welding a Fireplace Heatalator

[Stimw]

The pic of the item doesn't show much about what it is.
BUT, going by the texture of the metal it looks like some kind of cast metal.
Regular steel should not crack like that unless it got quenched when hot or some other stress.
What ever you do with it make sure you have a working CO Detector!! Smelling smoke is not a good test.

 

[Oldpath05]

Can that box be taken out and set on a welding bench? if has to welded in place, is it in a flat position or horizontal or hopefully not overhead? Then I would just fill the crack with 3/32 6011 and put some weld passes over that.

Mike may be right with using stainless rods, I'm not familiar with them. I think if it was cast steel it wouldn't warp like it did, but you cant tell by grinding a little, if redish sparks then it most likely cast iron, yellow-ish would mean steel-ish and easy-ish...........

 

[Industrial Toys]

The box will be in there long after I'm gone. They will probably find my Fathers time capsule in there somewhere.

I've actually become pretty good at filling in holes in stuff that I've burned through. A bit nervous about the comment that it will all crack after welding. It does astound me, how buckled this sheet steel has become.

 

[yomax4]

The box will be in there long after I'm gone. They will probably find my Fathers time capsule in there somewhere.

I've actually become pretty good at filling in holes in stuff that I've burned through. A bit nervous about the comment that it will all crack after welding. It does astound me, how buckled this sheet steel has become.

I did similar with my Fuego fire place that i consistently over fired in effort to extract more heat from it. I welded it up, never cracked again. That was 13 years ago and I believe it's still in use.

 

[Oldpath05]

If that's steel it wont crack again for along time if then, if welded somewheres near right, 6011 works good for filling cracks, holes and or will burn through any rusty crap, then a few passe with some stainless rod or 7014. Mig with 70s6 .023 will work good too if you shine up the metal and if you can get that in there.

I did a little youtube research on your problem Fireplace Heatilator, it's not going on a welding bench, like the guy in this video said>>>at 2:40"This thing huge, might have to take half the house off to get it out"<<<LOL >>> Removing an old Heatilator Fireplace - YouTube <<<I dont know if yours is like that in the video, if it is sure is a job to do what he did, good luck.

 

[goeduck]

If that's steel it wont crack again for along time if then, if welded somewheres near right, 6011 works good for filling cracks, holes and or will burn through any rusty crap, then a few passe with some stainless rod or 7014. Mig with 70s6 .023 will work good too if you shine up the metal and if you can get that in there.

I did a little youtube research on your problem Fireplace Heatilator, it's not going on a welding bench, like the guy in this video said>>>at 2:40"This thing huge, might have to take half the house off to get it out"<<<LOL >>> Removing an old Heatilator Fireplace - YouTube <<<I dont know if yours is like that in the video, if it is sure is a job to do what he did, good luck.

My insert was installed in the firebox of a heatilator fireplace with the center tube cut out and a new stainless smooth wall liner run up to the top of the chimney. I don’t know why the guy in the video thought he needed to remove his.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Our clay tiles all broke and fell in. A local craftsman fabricated something that resembled the old tile but made out of 1/4" stainless!. I don't ever bother cleaning it, although the expanded steel mesh over the top was almost completely plugged causing my glass to get terribly dirty almost immediately.

I know it's not efficient, but I can put three foot logs in there and I like that. Especially garbage dead fall. Not so much cutting and handling.

I will see what rod I have. Thought twice about putting in silicone. If I do decide to weld it in future, that might come back to bite me.

 

[goeduck]

.
I know it's not efficient, but I can put three foot logs in there and I like that. Especially garbage dead fall. Not so much cutting and handling.
.

That certainly is a great feature.

 

[coolreinfarm]

Drill a hole at each end of the crack and weld it closed, old school way sometimes it works.

 

[yomax4]

Our clay tiles all broke and fell in. A local craftsman fabricated something that resembled the old tile but made out of 1/4" stainless!. I don't ever bother cleaning it, although the expanded steel mesh over the top was almost completely plugged causing my glass to get terribly dirty almost immediately.

I know it's not efficient, but I can put three foot logs in there and I like that. Especially garbage dead fall. Not so much cutting and handling.

I will see what rod I have. Thought twice about putting in silicone. If I do decide to weld it in future, that might come back to bite me.

I have an outdoor wood boiler that requires a little silicone in some areas but I can't seem to source anything that takes over 600 degrees.