Welding Cast Iron with Oxy/Acetelyne

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I want to repair a cast iron vice using cast iron rod with OXY/ACETELYNE and anti-borax as flux.  Essentially, I will be filling holes in the vice.  This is the first time I've tried to use cast iron rod and am looking for a little advice on how to do it.  What shade should the eye protection be and please describe the general technique that should used.I have arc welded cast iron with nickel rod, but I want to learn how to use the cast iron rod.Thanks in advance.
Reply:There was a link floating around to a video site where the guy is demonstrating various gas welding techniques for his companies' brand of rods.Is it cracked? Or has someone drilled into it?Personally I prefer bronze on cast for ease of application but both techniques require you to preheat first, and preheat evenly, you don't want it to crack after. With the bronze you will work your way along the crack as in normal bronze welding, I find that cast rods are a matter of working the puddle, more difficult to do. As far as goggles go I use the same ones for cutting, oxy/acety fusion welding, brazing. Never give the shade much thought as compared to arc.After you have finished it helps if you have a heat blanket to wrap it in to avoid chilling. But overall you would be better off using one of the better cast iron quench rods where you weld about an inch, quench with water, then peen the daylights out of it. Clean it up with the grinder and do the same over again. That way you won't burn all the paint off.Clive
Reply:Thanks Clive, for the quick answer.  It helps a lot.  I am filling in holes where previous owners had drilled.  I had considered bronze, but the hope is to have a homogenous finish when I'm done.
Reply:the trick to heating is use a gas grill. heated an old obsoleat ehaust manifold that had broken. that when run it turned bright red . it's held up for ten years now. nickel rod
Reply:Originally Posted by asemasterthe trick to heating is use a gas grill. heated an old obsoleat ehaust manifold that had broken. that when run it turned bright red . it's held up for ten years now. nickel rod
Reply:WOW, using a gas grill for even preheating of odd ball shapes is a FANTASTIC idea!  Have you tried just shutting the lid for slow cooling to ambient?Thanks for that one.
Reply:yes I left the piece in over night on low then let it cool for the rest of the day with the hood down and grill off.
Reply:Throw in a rack of ribs too for lunch.....Hobart 140 Handler w/ gasHyperTherm Powermax 380 Plasmaoxy/acetylene