I had a lady stop by today looking to have a candle holder repaired, i told her i'd fix it for her. Its an old casting and i figured it was pot metal so i tried to silicon Bronze tig braze because i had some in the garage. before i got it hot enough to melt the braze rod the casting started to melt, it was pretty smoky and there was a lot of white residue left after this attempt. I'm thinking it may be some type of aluminum based on what I'm seeing now i tried to get a puddle going using AC tig and i got the same puff of smoke when the casting started to melt. I'll get a few pictures in a couple minutes after i eat and hopefully someone can tell me how to go about fixing this candle holder for this lady.
Reply:Originally Posted by winniweldI had a lady stop by today looking to have a candle holder repaired, i told her i'd fix it for her. Its an old casting and i figured it was pot metal so i tried to silicon Bronze tig braze because i had some in the garage. before i got it hot enough to melt the braze rod the casting started to melt, it was pretty smoky and there was a lot of white residue left after this attempt. I'm thinking it may be some type of aluminum based on what I'm seeing now i tried to get a puddle going using AC tig and i got the same puff of smoke when the casting started to melt. I'll get a few pictures in a couple minutes after i eat and hopefully someone can tell me how to go about fixing this candle holder for this lady.
Reply:Ok here are the pictures, you can see where I tried to start an arc on the base, it started to puddle and then it smoked and flashed. Ive done some searching and it seems there are some low temp aluminum brazing fillers out there, also Ive had great luck with pre fluxed silver solder sticking dissimilar metals together, any chance that one of these would work on this?
Reply:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pot_metal
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in and jb weld will probably be your best bet.My name's not Jim....
Reply:If its pot metal you are kinda screwed.Last week I was at Lincoln Electric weld school and asked the instructor (Karl Hoes) about zinc alloys (pot metal).He said that you can purchase zinc filler rod but the trick with that stuff is to get pieces of scrap copper, (and such) and build a "mold" around the part to be repaired. Then stuff the filler rod into the runny molten pool in your makeshift "casting mold". After you let it cool, remove your "mold bars" and with a file, die grinder, etc; reshape it to look proper.I haven't any experience with this myself but thought I would pass along what I was taught.Red Seal Journeyman Welder (2003), Red Seal Journeyman Metal Fabricator (2018), Welding Engineering Technologist (2005)Pressure - ASME Section IXStructural - CSA W47.1, CSA W47.2Transport tanker - CSA B620Aerospace - AWS D17.1
Reply:The guys who repair old car taillights etc made of pot metal all talk about fluxing and soldering the parts.Miller Syncrowave 350Millermatic 252/ 30A spoolgunMiller Bobcat 225g w/ 3545 spoolgunLincoln PowerArc4000Lincoln 175 Mig Lincoln 135 Mig Everlast 250EX TigCentury ac/dc 230 amp stickVictor O/AHypertherm 1000 plasma
Reply:Originally Posted by winniweld.....................Ok here are the pictures, you can see where I tried to start an arc on the base, it started to puddle and then it smoked and flashed. I’ve done some searching and it seems there are some low temp aluminum brazing fillers out there, also I’ve had great luck with pre fluxed silver solder sticking dissimilar metals together, any chance that one of these would work on this?
Reply:Has anyone ever tried this stuff? https://www.muggyweld.com/product/super-alloy-1/
Reply:I've seen it used. They demonstrate on a soda can. Clean the bottom, poke a hole in an empty can, flux, and solder using a neutral flame and tiny tip on an oxy/acetylene torch. It works well for that. I'd be doubtful on dirty old pot metal castings.An optimist is usually wrong, and when the unexpected happens is unprepared. A pessimist is usually right, when wrong, is delighted, and well prepared.
Reply:Originally Posted by winniweldHas anyone ever tried this stuff? https://www.muggyweld.com/product/super-alloy-1/
Reply:winniweldThis is a more thorough explanation of Pot Metal . . .https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZamakOpus
