My first welding question.

[Alan Reynolds]

I’ve got to do a job for someone. It’s an 1 1/4 inch spanner made of chrome vanadium, big bugger, and I need to weld two 1/8 inch plates over either side of the open end. My Sip mig stuck to the plate but not to the spanner. Looked great but popped off under load. Would the arc welder stick it, or am I being a complete peanut. I ground the spanner and plates, so all was clean. Heeeeeeelp please.

 

[Dcal]

You would have a much better chance with arc unless you have a decient mig.
I'd use 7018 rods, 2,5s seems about right

 

[slim_boy_fat]

What's the intended end use? At that size it looks like it'll be subject to a lot of force?

Be wary of your liability if it gives up and someone is injured (or worse). It could cost you dearly.

 

[Alan Reynolds]

You would have a much better chance with arc unless you have a decient mig.
I'd use 7018 rods, 2,5s seems about right

Got those so arc it is then. Thanks for the info.

 

[Alan Reynolds]

What's the intended end use? At that size it looks like it'll be subject to a lot of force?

Be wary of your liability if it gives up and someone is injured (or worse). It could cost you dearly.

Get your point but if it fails it actually will ‘fail safe’. The plates have a hole in them through which a large pin passes. The spanner is used to straighten C clamps and the plates and pin will stop them distorting the holes in theC clamps. If the weld breaks, the pin is still held and the spanner will still be on the C clamp.

 

[Robbie260]

I would not be using a 7018 rod for that job personally, when ever I had special tools to make out of sockets and spanner’s on the ships I used a unitor Problem steels (difficult to weld steels) electrode, unitor 328N. Ships electrode supply is a little different to shore side so I’m not sure how to translate that to Esab, Bholer, Lincoln etc. Someone else may know like @bR39Da?

They are very good for welding different types of steel together too.

Best to heat the parts up together so they are warm about 80 to 100 degrees Celsius and then ounce welded put back in a hot oven and slowly bring the temperature down or bury in dry sand. Allows the metal too re align its electrons making it stronger. Don’t run it under the cold tap or chuck in a bucket of water.

 

[Moose McAlpine]

My Sip mig stuck to the plate but not to the spanner.

Did you remove the nickel/chrome plating off the spanner prior to welding?

 

[Alan Reynolds]

Did you remove the nickel/chrome plating off the spanner prior to welding?

Yes, I ground it off on the lines her. I expect the spanner was too thick for my SIP.