- Thread starter Turbo
- Start date
BrokenBiker
Member
- Messages
- 11,241
- Location
- Newport, South Wales
if you know what the steel is, look for rods specifically for that..if you dont know what it is, i always opt for 309
hotponyshoes
Member
- Messages
- 7,491
- Location
- Somerset. Uk
I've got some 321 filler if you want some.
Works fine on carbon steel
Works fine on carbon steel
It's an old long tail builders shovel.
Not sure what steel but it is very tough and springy.
It is cracked vertically where the ferrule merges into the shovel head.
I've welded one before nearer the point of the shovel using the mig and standard ms wire. It held up ok but eventually split again in a different place due to the shovel being worn thin.
Never heard of 321 so I did some googling.
There seems to be 2 types of 321 wire, one for mild and carbon steel.
https://www.lawsonproducts.com/products/321-mild-and-carbon-steel-tig-wire-1-8-cw1007
Another for stainless steel.
https://www.oxfordalloys.com/Oxford-Alloy-321-TIG-Wire
Which version do you have and what diameter?
frank horton
V twins are great but 4"s rule.........
- Messages
- 4,410
- Location
- Crete, Greece
for that kinda job I just use 316 St/steel rods if the metal is not to thin....
She's got a few BULLDOG all metal shovels, some with horizontal splits that have been repair'd this way...
No idea how long ago they were fixed...still in use....
She's got a few BULLDOG all metal shovels, some with horizontal splits that have been repair'd this way...
No idea how long ago they were fixed...still in use....
hotponyshoes
Member
- Messages
- 7,491
- Location
- Somerset. Uk
Typo! I've got 312 filler!
I'd be interested in a few rods. I'll drop you a message.
Munkul
Jack of some trades, Master of none
- Messages
- 7,768
- Location
- Cumbria
Mild steel is carbon steel 
You can weld up to medium carbon steel with er70 filler rod. Do a bit of preheat with a torch and it'll be just fine.
316 - not the best choice, the weld dilution of the chrome can make the joint brittle.
309 or 312 would be better, as it has enough chrome and nickel in to be diluted by the carbon steel.
Honestly, I'd just weld it with mild steel.
You can weld up to medium carbon steel with er70 filler rod. Do a bit of preheat with a torch and it'll be just fine.
316 - not the best choice, the weld dilution of the chrome can make the joint brittle.
309 or 312 would be better, as it has enough chrome and nickel in to be diluted by the carbon steel.
Honestly, I'd just weld it with mild steel.
If you already have 312 then go with it, works well on almost any type of steel and is very resistant to cracking even on high carbon steel, great for anything where you aren't sure of the composition of the steel, either mild/carbon/tool steel/stainless. If its just mild steel er70 (er70-6 or er70-2) is great choice as it is a closer match to your base metal and is way cheaper than 312 (or 309 which would be another good choice for mystery metal/steel or mild to stainless).
312 would be way over matched on strength for mild steel but unless you want/need your weld to be your failure point then there's no reason you can't use it on mild steel. As its a spade you might find that a crack forms next to the weld if you use 312 as it will be significantly stronger so you won't get as much flex out of it as the surrounding metal. Also being a spade, it might be closer to a spring steel or higher carbon so the 312 will be more crack resistant in the weld metal, er70-2 may give you a bit more flex. Try the 312 and see how you go.
312 would be way over matched on strength for mild steel but unless you want/need your weld to be your failure point then there's no reason you can't use it on mild steel. As its a spade you might find that a crack forms next to the weld if you use 312 as it will be significantly stronger so you won't get as much flex out of it as the surrounding metal. Also being a spade, it might be closer to a spring steel or higher carbon so the 312 will be more crack resistant in the weld metal, er70-2 may give you a bit more flex. Try the 312 and see how you go.
I have 312 on its way to me from @hotponyshoes .
Already have mild and stainless steel rods.
I think I have some either 309 or 312 tig rod already I got from where I used to work.
It was used to make paint stirrers but as I cut off the flat bit at the end I can't be sure as it could be 316 s/s rod.
and if you dont have any , twist a couple of bits of mig wire together and it will get you by , ,,, not perfect ,Mild steel is carbon steel
You can weld up to medium carbon steel with er70 filler rod. Do a bit of preheat with a torch and it'll be just fine.
316 - not the best choice, the weld dilution of the chrome can make the joint brittle.
309 or 312 would be better, as it has enough chrome and nickel in to be diluted by the carbon steel.
Honestly, I'd just weld it with mild steel.
but
have to makes a hard master.
