Stick Welding Cast Iron with Nickel-99 Electrodes (Video)

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Goodafternoon, everyone So, here's my latest repair... Its a Cast Iron bench vise I'm fixing up for a buddy of mine:[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeJQEDTpTaE[/ame]When the thing showed up, the front jaw was cleanly broken from the slide, and I knew it had seen some better days...So, a quick spark test determined it was probably gray cast iron, possibly white cast, but either way I knew it was, ideally, a job for Nickel Electrodes, as those are two of the harder kinds of cast to weld.I'd used 7018 on Cast with success before, but since this wasn't my vise I didn't want to take a chance on it. I spent $30 on a pack of 10 Nickel-99 Electrodes from Tractor Supply, and after realizing they were only 12" long instead of the usual 14, I got to work.I quickly discovered that the instructions were useless and it took almost twice the "recommended" amperage to put down a half decent weld, but got setup to run them at 95 amps on A/C...After lighting up the rosebud and preheating the daylights out of the casting, I started welding, peening, welding some more and hopeing for the best...I then buried the part in sand, and HOURS (literally) later it was cool enough to touch, and then I torture-tested the finished repair. I'm very happy with how this turned out, I got to run some nickel electrodes, and had another successful cast iron repair Anyway, I really enjoyed making this video, and fixing something that can be put back in service... It was a fun job. Just thought I'd stop in and share the video before I leave for school here, hope you guys enjoy it. Have a great week, everyone!! [Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:The amount of slag from a nickel rod is normally pretty heavy an as you found out easy to get in your weld.  I personally try to keep welds small and short in an effort to not have such a big slag puddle floating around and just keep chipping off the slag between welds.  It's not the easiest thing to run.
Reply:Originally Posted by cd19The amount of slag from a nickel rod is normally pretty heavy an as you found out easy to get in your weld.  I personally try to keep welds small and short in an effort to not have such a big slag puddle floating around and just keep chipping off the slag between welds.  It's not the easiest thing to run.
Reply:Excellent video Lanse!!! Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:Nice video as always! Good job man
Reply:Your film making skills and attitude are far better than your cast repairs. Practice will make perfect though. Your repair was absolutely full of slag inclusions. Not bashing you just giving you some real world criticism. --Gol'
Reply:You make great video's! I enjoy watching them.  My experience with cast is, the cruder it is, the cruder the welding should be.  In other words, I would use square cast iron filler rod with an oxy acetelyne torch for import junk and nickle for something good. I have pretty good luck with gas welding cast.  Better than I have with arc.  I have never tried to tig it yet.  I have brazed with good results, but I cant say if it is better than welding.
Reply:Originally Posted by SuperArcExcellent video Lanse!!!