Joining Cast Iron to Steel Sheet

[The Force]

Hi All
I have an old, small, wood stove that I am trying to repair / rebuild.
The top and base are cast iron and circular. The tube between them is (was!) approx 1mm steel sheet rolled into a tube and riveted along the seam. Inside there is a fire lining which I have removed.
The tube and top/base were originally held together by just three rivets at each end, the cast iron has flanges for this.
The tube is approx 200mm dia by 300mm high.
I was considering joining the base and top to the tube by seam welding / or maybe tack welding. Will that work?
Maybe brazing would be a better idea?
No real strength required.
Any help / suggestions appreciated.

 

[irondarren]

braze it that would be your best bet

 

[malcolm]

I'd go braze too. Anything that's been near a fire will have absorbed loads of carbon so be tricky to actually weld. Braze should work (you can get brazing wire for a MIG) or alternatively mechanical fixing (rivets or nuts and bolts).

 

[Hitch]

I think redoing the rivets would be a better job.

 

[premmington]

Interesting but very correct point about "Anything that's been near a fire will have absorbed loads of carbon so be tricky to actually weld".

Would not thought of that myself, but very correct.

Someone is always smarter than me.......

http://www.remmington.plus.com

 

[TechnicAl]

Usually these stoves are made from the worst type of cast iron (for welding) which is possibly why it was riveted. I would agree with hitachi and rivet it again.

If you are determined to weld it, its probably better to keep it cool (unless you can get it to 550oC) and use a 7018 rod (standard low hy)
. The weld will be as brittle as old boots and it will look awful but it doesnt really matter.

Alternatively brazing or welding with a Ni alloy will give better results but you could probably buy a new stove cheaper.

 

[Cappy]

I'd go along with Hitachimad and TechnicAl and go for rivets. This will allow for any differential contraction/expansion that might take place between the cast iron parts and the thin steel sheet, particularly on first lighting up.