A friend wants me to weld some feet on his antique claw foot bath tub with my 110 mig but I'm not so sure I can weld cast iron with it. Does anyone have any experience welding cast iron? Thanks for any info :TU:
Unless you are an extremely excellent welder and have knowledge about cast iron and you have a very good welder, You better pass.Our welder at work has been welding for years and even he says its terrible to do. Pat
guy up at the machine shop says the trick to welding cast iron with a wire mig is to use a blow torch to get the iron hot first, then turn the setting down as low as possible on the mig. Work slow and re-heat with the flame as needed. At least that's what he said o No:
I migged an exhaust manifold for an emergency repair once. Its ugly welding and not very strong at all. A decent welder skilled in Arc welding can do it no problem. Preheat and use the correct rod and its all good.
The trick is a high nickle rod. You do have to get it red hot before welding to get enough penetration. Mig welders won't make a strong weld on cast iron.
I worked for a railcar repair shop a few years back. To build up worn down side frames and bolsters or any type of weldng on cast we used a flux core wire. That was on 220 wire feed welders. Just my .02.
