How to Weld Cast Iron?

by Avadhesh Sharma SEO Analyst

If you want to weld cast iron in your factory, that will save both your time and money. But, welding is not everyone's cup of tea, as the action revolves around some potential risks. Failure can cause damage to the material; hence, you need to look for an experienced person. However, the article is going to give you a few tips related to in-house welding.

Tips to Start In-House Welding

According to CI Electrodes manufacturer, welding requires research, and the steps are as follows-

• To start with welding first, you need to identify the alloy.

• After that cleaning is essential

• You need to select the pre-heat temperature depending on the type of alloy.

• As per the type of alloy, you need to choose the appropriate welding technique.

So, those are the essential steps of research before initiating the welding procedure. Now, let\'s talk about each step in detail.

How to Identify the Alloy?

Cast iron is an amalgamation of iron and carbon. Due to the presence of carbon, the alloy is sturdy; usually, the percentage of carbon content varies from 2% to 4%. The hardness of the alloy comes with ductility. There are three major types of alloy- white cast iron, grey cast iron, and malleable iron. In order to identify each one of them, you need to go through the specification of the alloy. You can also ask the CI electrodes supplier for spark testing to determine the type of the alloy.

How to Clean the Casting?

You need to prepare the alloy for welding, and the process requires proper cleaning. You can take an expert\'s help as he will guide you to clean the surface material like paint, oil, grease, etc. In order to release the entrapped gas, one can use mild heat on the area marked for welding. The cleaning involves repetition to make the area ready for welding.

How to Pre-Heat the Iron?

It is a very crucial step as the cast iron is prone to crack and damage if applied with too much stress. So, to control the stress, you need to follow three steps- preheating, inputting low heat, and slow cooling. The heat control is essential to limit the thermal expansion of the alloy. One should not hammer the iron when the object is warm; however, to increase the stress, localized heating is increased. Localized heating will restrict the expansion, and the step is followed by cooling. Cooling will contract the iron, but one needs to be careful about it as rapid cooling can cause damage to the iron object.

How to Choose the Right Welding Technique?

There are different types of welding techniques that largely depend on the suitability of the iron. A cast iron welding electrodes supplier may help you in choosing the appropriate technique. Some of the common techniques are oxy acetylene, stick welding, and braze welding.

Therefore, here is the complete idea of welding. If you are planning to weld in your factory, you should take the assistance of a professional to get quality work.