A2 steel?

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I just found a deal on 4 by 8' by 1" plate.  Which rod to use, preheat, etc?
Reply:A2 is a type of tool steel.  A stands for Air hardening."http://www.admiralsteel.com/products/blades.htmlTypical Chemistry: C 1.00 Mn .60 Si .30 Cr 5.20 Va .30 Mo 1.10"This stuff would be a bear to weld without cracking.  The high carbon and chromium will tend to make for very brittle weld heat-affected zones.If you're bound and determined to do this, you aught to contact a company like weld mold:http://www.weldmold.com/index.php/pr...-mold-937.htmlThey sell that 937 product as TIG or MIG wire.  A call to them should give you a useable welding procedure.  Prepare to have a heart attack when they tell you the price for the filler metal...Benson's Mobile Welding - Dayton, OH metro area - AWS Certified Welding Inspector
Reply:Pre-heat....AND .....Post heat is critical when welding A2 tool steel.
Reply:What do you plan to do with it?  Make a table top?  The tack welds from the top to the table frame won't really be loaded.  You just need enough weld to keep the top from sliding around.  I wouldn't be too concerned about cracking.  I would probably use a 60ksi filler and see what happens.  Worst case you get a few cracks and you preheat and reweld them.If you're building anything structural then you definitely don't want to follow my advise.Dynasty200DX w/coolmate1MM210MM VintageESAB miniarc161ltsLincoln AC225Victor O/A, Smith AW1ACutmaster 81IR 2475N7.5FPRage3Jancy USA1019" SBAEAD-200LE
Reply:As stated above, that is air-hardening tool steel, which means it hardens with much less effort than you'd need for water- or oil-quenching steels. I don't know what is required to anneal A-2, but with a plate like that, you couldn't anyway. I also haven't read about proper preheat; that admitted, have you thought about using a silicon bronze rod? BTW, I am guessing this may be for a welding table. If so, have you thought that the tack welds you might otherwise make to work pieces on a mild iron table won't be good for the surface of this one?
Reply:At the foundry I work for, we occasionally cast A-2 steel parts. After being poured, they do eventually go out for full anneal with a max hardness requirement of Rc20."SOUTHPAW" A wise person learns from another persons mistakes;A smart person learns from their own mistakes;But, a stupid person.............never learns.