Broke my 6" clamps

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Hi all,while trying to press the end of an electrical cable, I squeezed the VISE too hard and then I heard a "click"..found out a minute later that I just broke it hope the pictures are "readable" (the crack is above the 6 digit on the right side, the brand name is on the left side)any one recognize this brand?to what Temp. should I heat it before trying to weld it? (it definitely looks like cast iron)can it be fixed with a mig welder? (I have a Lincoln 180)if not- what kind of stick/rod do I need?thank you very much for any info Attached ImagesLast edited by nachche; 04-04-2013 at 05:39 PM.Reason: wrong title..The Welding table
Reply:Can we assume you are talking about your vise and not "clamps"??  Don't see a clamp anywhere.
Reply:If it were mine I'd use some type of 308 SS welding rod, v-out the crack first and pre heat and post heat. Run about a 1" bead first and let it cool. Stick a chisel in the crack and hit it to see it the weld actually bonds to this alloy. May need to try a nickel rod as well. I have an old vise in my shop that was broken several years ago and rewelded by a professional and still holding strong.Last edited by polarred21; 04-04-2013 at 05:23 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by shortfuseCan we assume you are talking about your vise and not "clamps"??  Don't see a clamp anywhere.
Reply:nachche,Do a search for cast iron or welding cast iron.  There have been a lot of very good posts/threads on the subject, some recently.  I tried a couple of them and the advise was sound; the procedures worked.  Good luck with your vise.
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749Bummer it broke. A good repair can be done on it, but with no experience brazing it, best off calling it a loss, give it shot & find another vise.
Reply:7a749  has it, braze it. Grind the crack out, get it all heated up and fill the ground out crack with bronze  rod, it'll be fine.
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749I know enough to get myself in trouble......
Reply:A good brazing job would fix it right up alright. But you do need some form of heat and a lot of it to do a good job.   Nickel welding might work but then it might not. Heat is needed here as well. I've had mixed results with nickel. Sometimes it does a good job but then sometimes it doesn't want to stick to the cast. The dirtier it is the less likely nickel is to stick.  Personally I'd make some form of oven out of what ever is handy. I have fire brick so that's what I'd use however you could get by with some decently heavy steel in a couple or more layers (with air gap between to act as insulation). The outer layers of steel could be lighter but the inner needs to be heavy enough not to melt readily.   Then some form of burner. A good weed burner type would do in a pinch but I'd recommend larger than the standard BBQ tank to supply it.   You'd have to Vee the crack and clamp it back in place somehow (easier said than done since you're going to be heating it which will heat the clamp causing it to bend). Keeping the main body of the clamp out of the heat is needed in this case.   Cleaning would need to be good and I cover surface prep with a cutting tool rather than a grinder in my thread  (http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=263821).   Then you'd need a decent size welding brazing tip. I'd say the minimum would be one rated for 30 CFH of acetylene however a 40 would be better.   Plenty of flux and some brass. Most of the rest is covered in the video and on the first post of my thread.Millermatic 252XMT 304'sDynasty 280DXHypertherm PowerMax 1250Miller Trailblazer 302 EFIOptima PulserXR feeder and XR Edge gun and more athttp://members.dslextreme.com/users/waynecook/index.htm
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749Braze it.Irish Fixit has a nice thread on brazing.Bummer it broke. A good repair can be done on it, but with no experience brazing it, best off calling it a loss, give it shot & find another vise.IMHO of course
Reply:looks like a job for castweld