welding cast iron radiator

If the radiator is a cast iron radiator then you will have a much better chance of success welding it with cast iron rod.

309 L is a stainless rod and I have no Idea why that would have been suggested for welding cast iron??

Actually I am not sure why stainless was suggested, never gave it a second thought, had too many other things to get done. I did check it out earlier today and I can find no reference to using 309L for welding cast iron, there is an older reference to using 18-8 for cast but nothing else along those lines.

John

SS used to be the filler of choice on cast iron. There are better alternatives today, but a bunch of those SS repairs are still in service.

JTMcC.

Sounds like you have a lot of water corrosion on the inside of the metal. You might be better off brazing it than welding it.

Well come to think of it now there was a strange smell while welding and extreme porosity on the first weld, I think I will fire up the TIG machine and do a little brazing in the morning. At least it should be a little more forgiving, one thing about failures in welding you can learn alot from them

Have a good week everyone

John

I've found that my cast iron repairs got a lot better when I switched from using mechanical cleaning with a wire brush to electrolytic de-rusting.

-- Die Gotterspammerung - Junkmail of the Gods

I would use Cronatron 211 1/8" specifically for cast repairs. Small 1/2" welds with allot of peening. If not available then a ni-rod or go to the tried and true, brass with oxy-acet.

A

Hi Aaron, I've used the Cronatron 211 and have some opinions that might be of interest. Keep in mind that I'm an amateur welder and have little experience with cast iron.

I found the C 211 to be spectacular on GOOD iron. V'ing out properly is critical. The weld seems to want to pile up, and it's difficult to get it to flow into the surrounding material. It's controlable with a little practice, as long as you don't dilly-dally.

On an old thin iron that has been subjected to heat or water, the results were disappointing. The Cronatron salesman warned me of this -- something about the composition of the old material having less iron and more carbon, and the carbon just burning away. I tend to believe him, as the results were exactly as he described.

Cracking can also be a problem on old thin material. Don't be afraid to take days to complete the weld.

Finally, if you're not dead-set on welding, keep the possibility of brazing in mind.

Well I did get the radiator welded and leak free finally, used a couple of Ceritanium rods that where kicking around. Made especially for cast iron.

I know I know my were they not used right from the beginning, would you believe to save money?

There was a very interesting problem with the cast iron appearing to evaporate in the arc which a first for me, one of the guys at work did find an old reference to welding these old radiators and they mention the standards of brazing and CI rods with a note" virtually unweldable" at the end of the paragraph.

The weld was completed by removing most of the stainless steel filler, just enough was left to act as a cushion between the mild steel and cast iron. Welds were short with no preheat and plenty of peening. After 24 hours the radiator did not leak mind you this was without pressure. By this weekend they will have it up and running so hopefully they let us know if it worked or not.

John

AHH, the sweet smell of success!

JTMcC.