How to MIG weld hardend steel?

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I'm rebuilding a 1954 Ford F100 pickup. After adapting a power steering box I need to alter the two column mounted (three in the tree) shifting arms for clearance reasons. The cast steel arms are hardened as I could not cut them with a hack saw. I cut them with a wheel on a die grinder. What is the proper procedure to weld them back together? I'm a novice with my miller 211 MIG. Thanks in advance for the help.Bob
Reply:As a NON professional welder that's only welded hardened steel for rifle targets, I per heated the steel with a torch and made sure the outside temp was above 70F.   Then just welded it up like any other steel. Then again, I wasn't welding a critical part.  I do have the welding proceedure hand book as well as "metals and how to weld them.". All found on the Lincoln arc welding foundation website.Ill look it up for you when I get home.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:Can you give more info on the type of steel? I'm guessing you don't have a hardness tester to see what the Rockewell hardness is???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:SuperArcI can't tell you any more specific info about the type of steel.  Each of the two shift arms are a different length, the longest is about 5".  It had a kind of a dogleg bend in two places to give it an off set.  I straightened it by making cuts at the inside of each bend and bent it so it is nearly straight. The first cut I made was on the end "away" from the column shifter shaft bore and it cut normally with a hacksaw.  When I went to make the second cut at the other end which was close to the bore for the shifter shaft, it was hard and ruined the hacksaw blade.The second (shorter) shift arm was hard at both cuts. Bob
Reply:Still looking for some guidance.
Reply:My understanding is that it is not advisable to weld hardened steel as it will become brittle and crack.  Maybe someone with more experience will chime in.Lincoln Powermig 255Hypertherm Powermax 45Thermal Arc 161SOxweld 24R OA TorchStill Looking for an Old Round Top Idealarc 250