old vise repair and some questions

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picked up this monarch 217 vise a couple years back for like 15$ finally getting to were i can get it setup and realized the rear ear was broken off....plan:i used jody's (weldingtipsandtricks.com) hardenability file test to check -- hard as a rock on the puddled bit1. de-grease the vise2. grind a little better bevel on the vise base3. fab up a replacement ear out of 3/8" a36 steel (has 27 degree bevel on it already) 4 heat up vise body in a kaowool wrap to umm 400 degrees? 5. tig braze the 2 pieces together with silicon bronze filler (hadnt really tried this till today on the pictured fillet -- awesome)6. let it cool as slow as possible by wrapping in kaowool till completely cooled down...any imput? Attached Images
Reply:that silicon bronze is amazing to tig with. i got some last week to try it out and i'm liking it way too bad. so, what happened with the repair? cold feet??i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:im hoping for a little verification of my plan with some of the more experienced cast guys
Reply:Silicon bronze works well, I have also taken some NI rod knocked the flux of and TIG welded things up. Pre heat use a temp stick to check your work and then post heat. V things out oil free ECT.
Reply:i dont have any temp sticks was going to use infrared thermometer... does a temp stick work better?
Reply:going off of what my first weld trainer in my first welding job "dont sit there and worry about screwing it up, just nut up and do it"i stopped worrying about doing it textbook perfect (now i  will worry about whether it survives or not) i cleaned it with a wire brush and 3 cans of brake cleaner. prepped my scab plate while it was drying, ground the broken area down,  heated it up a bit, and burned some 3/32" silicon bronze rod into the groove. since this is my first "real cast iron" repair i spent some time chasing down the pinholes hidden under the skin of the cast probably a little more than i should have. it did come out flat and all i have left to do after cooling is to finish grinding the scabbed on plate and fabricating the rest of the mount.
Reply:I was wondering about the infrared myself the other day and tried in on some aluminum and it seemed to have a hard time picking it up and was reading 100-150 lower  but it was consistent at that. Ut was the first time I thought to use it so it might be worth experimenting with.
Reply:temp stick or infrared thermometer just try and get close to the correct temp.
Reply:3 cans of brake cleaner? Ever read about the dangers of welding after using that stuff?IAMAW Local 330Airco 300 AC/DC HeliwelderAirco Dip-Pak 200 with Profax spool gunPowr-Kraft AC225Everlast PowerArc 200stBuffalo Forge No.21 drill pressSpeedglas 9100xxAirco, Oxweld, Purox, Victor torchesLincoln Ranger 8
Reply:Originally Posted by wnywelder3 cans of brake cleaner? Ever read about the dangers of welding after using that stuff?
Reply:Originally Posted by trunkzi dont have any temp sticks was going to use infrared thermometer... does a temp stick work better?
Reply:Originally Posted by 76GMC1500It's not brake cleaner you have to worry about it's chlorinated solvents.  New EPA rules have eliminated most chlorinated solvents from the market.  If the can says flammable you are good to go.  If it does not, then proceed with caution.  So most brake cleaners are safe to use for clean-up before welding now.
Reply:it was non chlorinated brake cleaner probably why it took 3 cans lol.. besides after a couple hours air drying (chlorine evaprates rather well) and the preheat i am fairly certain i was good to go.
Reply:Hey Guys I am new here and retired now ,COPD kinda got me (too much power plant work) . But I am suprised no one mentioned NOT using and aluminum oxide grinding wheel when preping cast iron (al kinda bonds to the surface)clean file and chisel work best
Reply:The repair was completed successfully so why all the negative posts.  I have personally brazed a new ear on a broken vice myself.  It's an easy repair and can really add a lot of value to your shop.  If you used brake cleaner and you aren't dead yet everything is fine.  If its tig brazed and has no cracks, everything is fine.  If you can use your vice to hold a part while you extract a broken bolt you obviously did fine.