Record 36 stillson repair?

[Bki26]

One of the two 36's I got happens to have a broken frame(?) which would be nice to try and repair otherwise it'll just become spare parts for its twin.

Friend says a 312 stainless would work on it but what would you lot do to fix?

Handle says drop forged steel but read online it saying "high-grade cast malleable iron frames"

 

[Munkul]

Take the frame off, and start gouging out the crack with an angle grinder. If the sparks are more red than usual, it's cast iron.

If it is cast iron, I wouldn't use 312 stainless, it doesn't have enough nickel in it. Try to get a pure nickel or Ni-Fe rod. It's a small enough part to heat up to 250 degrees or more and try to keep it there while you weld it. Then let it cool, very very slowly.

If it's steel, weld it however you like

 

[winchman]

I would plate it

 

[James1979]

I would weld it up to be fair as @Munkul

Either that or buy a spare frame

https://www.amazon.co.uk/IRWIN-T30036C-Record-Stillson-Springs/dp/B019C3GGCG

 

[bricol]

Looks like someone has had a go at it already from the groove along the crack.

Is it really worth it though? - every time you lean on it, you'll be wondering - or you'll go find the other that isn't damaged anyway, just in case.

 

[addjunkie]

Bin

 

[Turbo]

It will not be cast iron, not strong enough for that application. Likely cast steel or drop forged, either way I would use a Eutectic 680 rod, useful rod to have around for welding high strength/dissimilar/difficult to weld steels.
https://www.castolin.com/product/eutectrode-xuper-680-s-welding-electrodes

I welded a cracked cast steel g-clamp with a 680 & it hasn't broken yet!

 

[Bki26]

Bin

A fan of the modern way I see, no longer do people even bother to repair just "bin it buy another"...

 

[bricol]

A fan of the modern way I see, no longer do people even bother to repair just "bin it buy another"...

No, just possibly a fan of cost effectiveness, or even safety.

 

[awemawson]

No, just possibly a fan of cost effectiveness, or even safety.

I was harassed on another forum by a fellow moderator for advocating buying an item (small bench press in one instance and a hot air gun in another) rather than making one for exactly this reason. Sometimes life is too short and getting shorter by the day !

(I told him that we'd have to agree to disagree!)

 

[defender dan]

How much are a 1kg pack of Eutectic 680 rods ? Just wondering if it`s feasible to keep a pack at home for repairs etc.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

A fan of the modern way I see, no longer do people even bother to repair just "bin it buy another"...

Much like parenting. Choose your battles.

I'm all for reusing and repairing but I wouldn't want to be on the end of that when it gives up again. It's neither rare or hard to come by

 

[Agroshield]

...I wouldn't want to be on the end of that when it gives up again...

Steel does not have a failure mode like glass. If it does break again, it won't go suddenly, especially since the opposite side is still intact.

To me, it is worthwhile attempting the repair, very much as a learning exercise. You gain a new skill, you practice on something of not too much value, that is easily replaceable and you can very easily carry out a controlled test (proof load to 150% of SWL - 7 1/2 foot scaffold tube instead of the standard 5 foot one) to assess the quality of your work. Whatever the outcome of the test, you learn something that will be useful to you when the next item, that is rare and expensive lands on your bench.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Steel does not have a failure mode like glass. If it does break again, it won't go suddenly, especially since the opposite side is still intact.

To me, it is worthwhile attempting the repair, very much as a learning exercise. You gain a new skill, you practice on something of not too much value, that is easily replaceable and you can very easily carry out a controlled test (proof load to 150% of SWL - 7 1/2 foot scaffold tube instead of the standard 5 foot one) to assess the quality of your work. Whatever the outcome of the test, you learn something that will be useful to you when the next item, that is rare and expensive lands on your bench.

Or I could grab another 36 and 2 18" for £25 quid and use the time for something more productive.
I value my free time

 

[Kayos]

I'd buy a new set.

If the 36 comes out Im going to be leaning on it, possibly with assistance, no way would I trust a repair

 

[Munkul]

I echo what others have said to be fair. You don't pull a 36" stilly out for the fun of it, you do it when nothing else will work. It's not just a static strain, you're jumping on it sometimes.
If it's steel, then get it welded up. It will be fine.
But,
It could well burst like glass, if it is indeed cast iron... brittle failure mode!!!

A new 36" is ~£200, makes the £15 part that James found look good value for money... and good value for time/effort as well...

 

[addjunkie]

I echo what others have said to be fair. You don't pull a 36" stilly out for the fun of it, you do it when nothing else will work. It's not just a static strain, you're jumping on it sometimes.
If it's steel, then get it welded up. It will be fine.
But,
It could well burst like glass, if it is indeed cast iron... brittle failure mode!!!

A new 36" is ~£200, makes the £15 part that James found look good value for money... and good value for time/effort as well...

Looks like Id describe as a cheap nasty sthilson, the kind bought by purchasing-on price, rather than an engineer on quality.

Offshore many of-them were float tested on a dark night, to avoid incidents when they were incorrectly use as a wheel key with 4 ft of scaffy tube on the end.

 

[James1979]

I’ll see your 36 and raise you a 48

The astute will notice that it’s a ridgid tool with a record jaw and it’s got a bit of a bend.

That’s because some donkeys had a shackle in the end of the handle with a chain block in. Still wouldn’t work so they used a pry bar to inch the chain through the block link by link.

The jaw failed on the corner and the handle smashed a guys knee. Did a proper number on it.

I nabbed the stilson before it got scrapped.

Point of the story is as above you never know what some moron is capable of so sometimes a repair isn’t the way.

If I were to weld it, it’d be as above but not sure I would want to use it in anger

 

[premmington]

I have never used a set of stillsons over 24" in anger.

 

[Seadog]

Just for pleasure then?