Dumb question... can you weld mild steel and hard steel together?

admin

I should be getting my first ever welder in the next couple of hours... just waiting on the FedEx guy. I've used a MIG welder before a couple of times, but I got a TIG welder. An AHP AlphaTig 200x. Anyway, I have all that's needed to weld. I got some mild steel square tubing, angle irons and a bed frame that I cut into pieces I need to build a welding table. I cut the square tubing and angle irons with no problem on my 14" chop saw with a carbide tipped blade. As soon as I started on the bed frame, it was much harder to cut. I assume this is hardened steel. I need the bed frame pieces to make the table. Will I be able to weld the bed frame pieces to the mild steel square tubing and angle iron?
Reply:Yup- on the bed frames. Use a cut off wheel or an abrasive chop saw.You can weld it, plenty of projects done with it.Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Bed frames (and non-weldable rebar) are like the sausages of the metal world.  All sorts of crap goes into them.It's going to have more carbon than mild steel, and will be more brittle after welding, but for non-structural use, it's a great and cheap source of steel.  Enjoy!
Reply:Originally Posted by rlitmanBed frames (and non-weldable rebar) are like the sausages of the metal world.  All sorts of crap goes into them.It's going to have more carbon than mild steel, and will be more brittle after welding, but for non-structural use, it's a great and cheap source of steel.  Enjoy!
Reply:Take the bed frames and chuck them in the scrap pile to return when China starts needing more and the price goes back up. Buy yourself some steel angle from the surplus place, I buy mine at $0.50/lb at the most. You'll be glad you did. Ryan
Reply:Bed frame is not steel. Think of it as the "meat" in a McDonalds hamburger. Nobody knows what it is, but it ain't meat.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:312 super missle rod. It's like butter
Reply:I agree, some are ok to stick together , mostare not, and some are of an unequal size on the angle also.
Reply:Sure you can weld bed frames  thats why they make coat hangers www.georgesplasmacuttershop.comPlasma Cutter and Welder Sales and Repairs--Ebay storeTec.Mo. Dealer Consumables for the PT and IPT torch's
Reply:If you don't have a salvage yard or are on a shoestring budget, then you use what you can get.Currently working as a Paralegal, but still interested in hobby welding.Miller Bobcat 225ntOne- Character Fractions: ¼ ½ ¾ ⅛ ⅜ ⅝ ⅞
Reply:A way to give you an idea if it's easy to weld is to try drilling it first. Some are riveted together ,some  have welded brackets.