Pot metal welding / soldering?

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Ok, so someone broke into my car and did some damage including busting the ignition switch off the steering column.  I'm hoping to repair the part because otherwise i have to get my car re-keyed - ignition, doors and trunk.  Uhgh.So, it's possibly pot metal.  It looks grainy where it broke, white in spots and no red rust anywhere.  It also might be cast aluminum.Ideally, it would be easier if I could fix it in place.  Otherwise I have to grind off the break-head bolts at a really unpleasant angle in a really small car and probably weld new heads on to extract the screws.Does anyone have a suggestion for process and material?  Could I get away with soldering it?  Strength against future attack isn't so important since the base material broke in the first place.  I just want it to hold up to daily use, e.g. putting a key in and turning.Thanks everyone!
Reply:any pics what kind of car if its white metal it cant be welded
Reply:I don't have any pics of it now, but I can get some tomorrow when it's light out.  It's an acura integra gsr (honda) and 10 years old.  It's apparently still one of the most stolen cars.  I was hoping someone would have an idea about alternative methods like soldering or brazing.  My research on brazing indicates that brazing only works when there's a very, very small gap between the metals.  At parts, because of the bent metal, there's up to a 1mm gap.
Reply:Zinc-based metals are hard to work with under good conditions but to weld/braze/solder it in place would be next-to- impossible, IMO. Epoxy won't have the strength you need. If you can get the same parts from a junkyard, it should be possible to rearrange the pins (or carefully take them from your unit and put into the 'new' one) so the same key works. If you can't do the  transfer, any good locksmith should be able to it for much less than re-keying everything else.
Reply:Originally Posted by ed macany pics what kind of car if its white metal it cant be welded
Reply:Get a column for your car from a junk yard. Remove the ignition switch. Take that and the ignition key to a locksmith and they can match it up.
Reply:Weld nuts to the anti theft bolts.  Then take them out.You need to know what you are working with to weld it.  If its aluminum which it could be..   It can be welded.  If not find a steering colum with the lock switch in tact and use your original key to unlock the doors and the new key to start the car.David Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Product call Cronabraze 53, used with F53 flux. Sold by Cronatorn Welding Systems.  Will do White "pot" metal.  I was a salesman with them for awhile.  Even when repaired, it will never have the new cast strength.  I'd just get the new part and be done with it.  Good Luck
Reply:there is a rod you can get @ a good welding supply its about 20 inches long its square and has a flux on the inside, use a oxy accetelene torch and run it like solder , I have used it on all kinds of pot metal , I would sudjest going to a wrecking yard and find a busted up part to experiment with ,what ever you do dont go near it with a tig welder ( instent invisable) , sorry I dont remeber the name of the rod but I have used it on carborators, and antique pewter.good luck