Sulfur for cast iron welding

[john fin]

Lincoln recommends using Sulfur for sealing up a cast iron weld. Where can I buy stick sulfur?

 

[rtbcomp]

Lincoln recommends using Sulfur for sealing up a cast iron weld. Where can I buy stick sulfur?

Laboratory supplies, see Yellow Pages.

 

[TechnicAl]

Sulfur ?
Are you sure?

What did they say exactly ?

 

[aametalmaster]

Caution Sulphur burns with an open flame. I make the stuff...Bob

 

[john fin]

Stick Sulfur

In the Lincoln Arc welding manual, written in the 50's or 60's (they still sell it) they talk about using stick sulfur to seal up a weld while its still hot(not while welding) to make it water tight.

 

[irondarren]

Must admit i never heard of that, but i guess i never had to repair a bit of casting to be water tight. I just use the NiFe welding rods they seem ok as long as you dont get it to hot by doing to long a welding run

 

[Welderpaul]

In the Lincoln Arc welding manual, written in the 50's or 60's (they still sell it) they talk about using stick sulfur to seal up a weld while its still hot(not while welding) to make it water tight.

Would the weld not be watertight anyway?

 

[snowcat]

Would the weld not be watertight anyway?

Would have thought, welded cast gas tight

 

[john fin]

sulfur

Arc welding causes craters and it would not be water tight unless you are extremly lucky. NI rods are great and work well but wont seal (see pic below of a NI weld on cast iron).

 

[rtbcomp]

I bought a workshop off an old plumber and there were loads of sticks of sulphur lying around, I guess that's waht he used them for.

 

[Codafile4]

Electrodes in todays market have improved quite a lot since the 60's, depending on the type of cast your welding will depend on the electrode normaly it would be a nickel core electrode. weld area must be well cleaned approx 50mm around the weld area. only weld 2"max at any one time then "pean" the weld. re start the weld when its cool to the touch.

 

[Codafile4]

By the way, Esab 9258 would be a good choice.

 

[snowcat]

I personaly, Root with the Tig useing stainless filler, Then if needed Cap with a disimlar on the stick...A trick I was shown that works well.

 

[Codafile4]

Hi snowcat, never tried that with a stainless steel filler, what type of filler do you use? with cast iron being up to 3% carbon then adding additional carbon via the stainless filler would give a brittle fracture all be it 0.03-.04%, the dillution would be under rated to the extent that the welds would give transfer cracks.

 

[snowcat]

314 filler, proberbly not technicaly best practice, but I thought most modern casting's being low carbon ran up from about 1.2%...? In real terms the amount of filler that your actualy putting into the weld and often only used to start a bridge with the tig...most of the weld is formed from the parent meterial... The trick was taught to me by an old pipe line welder I was working under... I didnt question the method just excepted it worked...

I also never pean cast or preheat which is also bad practice.. and was shown some cringe worthy tricks to use heat destortion on thick plate to an advantage..the guy had some 45 odd years experiance under his belt so he tended to destroy the rule book and re write it.

 

[Codafile4]

Hi Snowcat, thanks for that information, interesting, I will test this theory after new year and do an X-Ray of the joint and check the mechanical properties. Depending what type of cast Iron you use, as you know there is quite a range, for this exercise I will use an exhaust manifold. if nothing else it will be interesting dont you think. I might just learn something new. by the way, we [oldies] work in some funny ways LOL.

 

[snowcat]

Hi Snowcat, thanks for that information, interesting, I will test this theory after new year and do an X-Ray of the joint and check the mechanical properties. Depending what type of cast Iron you use, as you know there is quite a range, for this exercise I will use an exhaust manifold. if nothing else it will be interesting dont you think. I might just learn something new. by the way, we [oldies] work in some funny ways LOL.

A manifold Hey, like this one LOL It never needed to be X-Ray quality but simply gas tight...It would be intresting to see the Xrayed Joint just from curiosty..

Theres another member Lorenzo, Do a search on his name and your come across a cast brazed manifold he did...Also worth checking his Mig work out..he got me useing the duel shield wires, Tho my work's still not quite as tidy as his

 

[Drains]

and was shown some cringe worthy tricks to use heat destortion on thick plate to an advantage..

Tell us then Matt...

 

[snowcat]

Oh he'd weld up T fillets in inch plate without a single tack, hit it on one side in one long hit round the 220amp mark you'd see the plate pull over to nigh on 30 degrees he'd then hit the back of the fillet hot before you could say o'tt puting in a long root by the time he got to the end you could put a square on the T and it would be cock on seemed to know the exact amount of weld it needed...mind not sure about the stress factor on the plate..

 

[Codafile4]

The reason for the x-ray would be to prove that fractures have taken place both in the weld and the HAZ. if so the part will not be gas tight, other consideration would be how long will the job last? are you talking temporary repair ?. The welding of cast with a brazed joint on a maqnifold would also be questionable due to the stresses/ heat etc generated on the part, please dont get me wrong, but before you perform ANY welding on a part, you must know what that part is for and the likeyhood and consiquences if it fails, this applies to all welded material. what is the first rule in welding-penertration.
a brazed joint is exactly that - brazed. ok for components not under stress but suspect for something which is constantly under heat expansipon and contraction, vibration etc
a nice looking weld does not mean its a good weld its whether its fit for the conditions it going to perform in. Ive seen to many weld failures which has caused serious injuries and some time fatalities. The H&S are now pushing companies to qualify all welders to a European (EN287)or British (BS4872) standard for those welding anything, in about 2-3 years time it will be a requirement not a recommdation. Hey, sorry to go on.