Lamp from scrap

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Hi everyone,this is a lamp I made about a year ago from my used disc brake rotors and a 6cm (outer diameter) pipe. The clear coating cannot hide the shameful welds though. Rods used were Huyndai 6013  2.5 mm(3/32"), I don't remember the amperage.At the time I was running them on DCEP, but for sometime now I have the impression they run much better on electrode negative, and at least I have stopped seeing such huge holes.Comments please. Attached ImagesTelwin Force 165 InverterDewalt abrasive chop saw
Reply:You normally would not weld steel to cast Iron. That is a major part of your non attachment.. You would have done better to use an Oxygen acetylene torch and brazed those dissimilar metals together .Mac
Reply:Thanks Mac, I admit I had no clue on that matter as well.I only realized recently those disc rotors are some form of cast iron.I have been experimenting on another set and I noticed cracking (obviously from the heat input) as well as reduced sparks when grinding, so according to Lanse it must be cast iron.However, I must say that those same electrodes on DCEN at around 100 amps have fused decently well, so I' ll give them another try on my second lamp project (since I don't have an oxy/acetylene set yet).Telwin Force 165 InverterDewalt abrasive chop saw
Reply:Welding dissimilar metals seems to work when you don't know any better. Shop I used to work in had steel clamping tabs MIG welded to an aluminum wheel rim. Used the jig to cold bend hundreds of 1/2" round CR rod, never broke. She didn't know any better either.  Cool lamp! If what yer doing works, go for it. It's a lamp, not a hitch. We MIG copper to steel often on sculpture pieces. It works. 200amp Air Liquide MIG, Hypertherm Plasma, Harris torches, Optrel helmet, Makita angle grinders, Pre-China Delta chop saw and belt sander, Miller leathers, shop made jigs etc, North- welders backpack.
Reply:Thanks Bert!Ok, I understand that the resulting weld is far from ideal when you try to join dissimilar metals, but why is that? After all, it is the heat input that forms the bond by melting and fusing them together, right? Maybe because one melts much faster (at lower temperature) than the other?JohnTelwin Force 165 InverterDewalt abrasive chop saw
Reply:Originally Posted by bert the welderWelding dissimilar metals seems to work when you don't know any better. Shop I used to work in had steel clamping tabs MIG welded to an aluminum wheel rim. Used the jig to cold bend hundreds of 1/2" round CR rod, never broke. She didn't know any better either.  Cool lamp! If what yer doing works, go for it. It's a lamp, not a hitch. We MIG copper to steel often on sculpture pieces. It works.
Reply:Love that idea. I think it looks really cool!Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:Originally Posted by VPTSome may remember not long ago I welded an aluminum tube to a stainless keg. I always thought kegs were aluminum.