Spring steel

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What process would you use to weld a broken leaf spring. I have some argas electrodes that they tell me are great on spring steel, I have not tried them yet but I will give them a go.www.argas.com.au Just after different opinions and processesSimonhttp://members.optusnet.com.au/~abba/index.html
Reply:in my honest opinion..i would never try to weld a leaf spring i'd just find a replacement at a recycle yard and replace the u-bolts and call it a day....if it was to fail and you were the last one to touch it..then "your it" dont be "it"  ...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:I should have said it is only a old farm ute and a second hand spring is worth more than the old ute. A old timer just pokes areound his farm in it and chips burrs & checks his stock.Simonhttp://members.optusnet.com.au/~abba/index.html
Reply:I'd guess a lot would depend on which spring where huh? Hopefully not the main leaf.
Reply:ok i get it now..well i never had the pleasure of doing a leaf spring..try it with the rods you can get and let us know how it turns out...i'm interested...post pics!!  ...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:It's best to weld a "patch" piece to it rather than weld the sping back together. The minute you try to put any l;oad on it, it will break again. Bracing it with a "patch" will hold much longer, that is if you have the room to do it this way. If not, you are better off going to a wrecking yard and finding a replacement.Tony
Reply:Think of it this way:  Spring steel isn't an alloy, it's a heat treatment.  Any heating you do will alter the heat treatment.  Therefore, any process that involves heat cannot be used to repair a spring without the proper PWHT and tempering necessary to make it a spring again.  Basically, you can't weld or braze a spring.
Reply:The heat from welding will anneal the metal and therefore you no longer have a spring. Unless you use the correct filler and have a way to re-temper it, it will bend at the weld and not spring back.If you reinforce the repaired area sufficiently that the maximum load on the  repair does not bend it, then you will have a spring again although the characteristics of the spring will be different (it will be a stiffer spring).
Reply:i would say try a patch  also.  but you might be able to use an old spring  longer of corse  to make a helper spring ... but as said b4 welding on a spring  will take the spring out  and the weld wont  hold long. but a patch welded on the sides of the spring may hold longer
Reply:Thanks to all for the feedback, I did just that re-welded the broken spring and welded a patch over it, I used a E312-16 Argas 'special electrode' Put it all back together, so good so far.I would not have touched it if it was going on road, but If it lets go again it will stay parked under the old gum tree with the rest of the dead farm machinery.Simonhttp://members.optusnet.com.au/~abba/index.html