B&Q stainless steel spade repair

[DAPPH]

More of a case of well it's something to do challenge than a life saving event .

My pal was helping me yesterday , he's dug a 6 mtr trench for a land drain for me in thick black sticky clay .
He had this bright & shiny B&Q special £ 5 stainless steel looking garden spade .

On trying to get the first spit out the ground the blade folded back a bit to reveal that where the shank is welded on to the blade of the spade there is a " Vee " shaped split . On the back of the blade morroring the split is a perfect " Vee of tiny rust spots .

I'm suspecting /hoping that this " Vee" is a porous TIG weld that didn't have enough Argon gas shield when it was welde rather than a very impure Chinese stainless steel ..it is B&Q stuff after all .

To detach the shank & clean thing sup first I'd like to use a 1 mm stainless steel slitting blade to cut the shank out then attempt to DC tig weld it & any crack back up .

Any advice besides find a dustbin would be most welcome .

My set up is a multi mode DC welder , a bottle each of Co2 & Argon & a slack handful of 1 mm stainless steel rods

 

[bricol]

If it's anything like mine, you'll find metal sprayed (or similar) stainless over a mild steel core . . . I found a scrap bin . . .

 

[Paul G]

Spear & Jackson Stainless Steel Digging Spade £22.95 with 10 year warranty.


Some things are just not worth peeing about with, IMHO.


Paul G

 

[Fazerruss]

Come on men, this a welding forum!
No matter how much it costs he needs to justify having welding gear.

He should weld it up, reinforce it, hard face it then polish to a mirror finish and add go faster stripes.

You may not be able to polish a turd but you can throw sprinkles on it.

 

[Country Joe]

You may not be able to polish a turd but you can throw sprinkles on it.

This part alone has improved my day!
Thanks!
CJ

 

[henry Kadzielski]

Good morning gents.
You can actually polish a turd. Just watch 'Myth busters', they actually had a whole program on it 'so there'

 

[Country Joe]

Good morning gents.
You can actually polish a turd. Just watch 'Myth busters', they actually had a whole program on it 'so there'

Still quite early here, Hank - Maybe that's one for later!
CJ

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

If it is new, or under a year take it back. B&Q will replace it or refund the money.

I gave one to my father in law and to be honest the B&Q range was good to show off and little else.

 

[Paul G]

Come on men, this a welding forum!
No matter how much it costs he needs to justify having welding gear.

He should weld it up, reinforce it, hard face it then polish to a mirror finish and add go faster stripes.

You may not be able to polish a turd but you can throw sprinkles on it.

But, but, but..... nowadays you can buy a spade or fork cheaper than you can buy a fork handle.

( awaiting an avalanche of "Two Ronnies" jokes )

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

@Paul G

To keep you happy.

 

[gaz1]

i bought a cheap one just rewelded it back onto handle again with normal migwire its already lasted alot more hard work since then

as mine bent at the bend and soon snapped off after that it had a fibre core that set afire whilst i was welding it up

 

[pedrobedro]

You may not be able to polish a turd but you can throw sprinkles on it.

Our preferred method is to stick a pretty flag in it, each to their own. Get a proper steel Bulldog spade and stop posing with the stainless crap

 

[DAPPH]

Fazeruss, your post has made my day .
" ALL HAIL FAZERUSS , ALL HAIL FAZERUSS , ALL HAIL FAZERUSS ".

I'm not buying a bleeding new spade ,,, NOT EVEN RENTING ONE ..i DON'T DO THINGS DIGGING WITH SPADES .
I'm going to stick this one back together with some hot metal . it's a learning exercise of what or what not to do with my welding gear .

As I'm mentally & physically retired , I want the experience & mental challenge playing with hot metal as part of stroke & other disabilities rehabilitation ........before I turn my toes up ....... not after.

 

[eSCHEn]

Spear & Jackson Stainless Steel Digging Spade £22.95 with 10 year warranty.


Some things are just not worth peeing about with, IMHO.


Paul G

Exactly what we have Paul. I snapped the blade off the handle at the same point as the OP. Was about two years old. Spear and Jackson replaced it without issue and told me to dispose of the old one as I saw fit.

My pop MIGed the broken one with A18. Hasn't broken since and this is a few years back now. No rust problems with the repair either.