Welding Pot Metal

[yomax4]

The only pics I could supply would be the multitude of repaired bullet holes in the irrigation tubes in Nebraska or the bazillions of pre 1972 motorcycle cases that are still in service because of Welco 52 or Alumaweld if you prefer or the other dozen names out there. None are currently in reach.

 

[Soundguy]

when it turns cooler I'll post pics of that potmetal piece I fixed. just no time with both jobs going and the farm right now.

soundguy

 

[TDtractor]

Not sure if it will help, but I've used a product called HTS 2000 in the repair of Automotive Aluminum A/C hoses with very good results. The product also says it can be used to repair Pot Metal, Galvanized, and White Metal. It takes a little practicing to get used to it.

TD

 

[yomax4]

A good way to eliminate a dozen or more names for the same product is that the Welco 52 is half round with a flat side. Many many others are exactly the same. When I was a Harris Welco Salesman, I would walk up to the gypsies booths where they were selling the rods via microphone and they would just look away. They knew they were selling the stuff for a 400% margin. Thats ok, It works for the most part. There are a few others that work too.

 

[Soundguy]

if they could sell it at a 400% margin.. good for them. sounds like they had way better marketing skills than the people selling the same stuff ( welco ).

capitalism baby! free market rules!

soundguy

 

[TDtractor]

A good way to eliminate a dozen or more names for the same product is that the Welco 52 is half round with a flat side. Many many others are exactly the same. When I was a Harris Welco Salesman, I would walk up to the gypsies booths where they were selling the rods via microphone and they would just look away. They knew they were selling the stuff for a 400% margin. Thats ok, It works for the most part. There are a few others that work too.

You got me curious so I went out and looked at the HTS 2000 rods and they are round but varying rod sizes range from .087 to .075. I've had pretty good luck with this product. I practiced on aluminum soda cans that I punched a hole in then repaired. I've never used the Welco 52. I'll have to try them.

TD

 

[deereman75]

I have a few questions about the welco 52 stuff

1. what is best heat source to use for it? O/A? propane?

2. how much does it cost from say my LWS?

3. do you need any flux for it?

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I have a few questions about the welco 52 stuff

1. what is best heat source to use for it? O/A? propane?

2. how much does it cost from say my LWS?

3. do you need any flux for it?

The rods I've seen and used work well with a hand held MAPP gas torch. The guy I got mine from (barker at the fair with 400% markup) insisted that you never put the rod in the flame. You heat the base metal and then touch the rod to it. If the rod doesn't melt, heat some more.

The funny thing is that I've never been able to braze with it as well as I did at the guy's booth at the fair. I don't know what the difference is.

 

[Soundguy]

propane is fine.. the hotter it gets.. the harder it is to work with from my experience, as the rod melts back from the heat being applied to the parent metal.

I'd also like to note that it has to be clean clean clean.. I use a stainless steel brush that ONLY gets used for that application when doing the pot metal.. I also use the rod to kind of scratch along and scratcht he surface.. IMHO.. it probably is removing the oxide layer.. etc.

ps.. the one I use often is alumalloy.. I have used 2 others.. one from the chinese store.. one from northern tools..

soundguy

 

[yomax4]

Alumalloy is one I remember. The 52 was always called a "Rub On" rod because you try to keep it out of the flame. If you do get it in the flame it melts right off. Also the 52 has a flux for applications that don't want to take the filler. I guess in the end, I would use this kind of stuff as a last resort. I have a bunch of it in a rod guard but never really use it.