Best Way to Weld Crack In Cast Iron Bell

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What is the procedure and best way to weld up a crack in a Cast Iron Bell so it stays repaired and won't crack again? The bell I want to repair is about 15 Inches or better in diameter and about 14 inches tall. It has a crack about 3 inches up from the wide open bell end and the crack is about 6 inches long.
Reply:You might try the lock stitch method.  Welding anything that is round and made of cast iorn can be tough.  I am sure someone on here can tell you pre heat and post heat needs as well as what rod and method to use.http://www.locknstitch.com/
Reply:You're not trying to come up with a way to repair the "Liberty Bell" are you? Last I knew they didn't want it fixed.CharleyMiller MM252Miller Bobcat 225NTMiller DialArc HF / DIY Cooler2 Victor O/A TorchsetsMilwaukee 8" Metal SawMilwaukee Dry Cut "Chop" Saw 5 Ton Wallace Gantry Various Grinders, Benders, etc.
Reply:Drill a hole at each end of the crack, gouge out the crack into a U shape, pre-heat in the oven and weld in short beads, peen the welds immediately after laying each bead to help relieve the stress
Reply:My first thought was that someone older than me said the Liberty Bell could not be fixed even by the Craftsmen that built it.
Reply:aametalmaster has done a couple projects with MIG wire for cast iron:http://www.shopfloortalk.com/forums/...ad.php?t=34043
Reply:Originally Posted by farmallaametalmaster has done a couple projects with MIG wire for cast iron:http://www.shopfloortalk.com/forums/...ad.php?t=34043
Reply:You're talking about a bell.  Forget it.  You may be able to close the crack, but it will always sound awful from then on.
Reply:Gorilla Glue.Might change the sound a bit, though.
Reply:As far as I know, there are two main procedures for welding cast iron.Cold welding: Gouge it out, (electric) weld a short bead, peen it with a hammer as it cools to prevent it from cracking again as the weld cools down. Repeat until done.Hot welding: Gouge it out. Heat a large area, preferably the entire piece red hot. Weld it, O/A is excellent since it heats a larger area than electric welding. Pack in insulation and let it cool down very slow, maybe even reheating the entire piece after welding before slow cooling to make sure it cools and shrinks slowly and uniformly to prevent any new stress cracks. Brazing is also possible, since it uses less heat than welding it should be somewhat less risky. I have no idea about how any of the options affects the sound, but there's one way to find out...
Reply:Years ago in Lincolns news letter, there was an article about repairing the Liberty Bell. They said it could be done and not affect the sound. They had figured out how to do it and who could make the weld.UTP has a cast iron rod that is cast iron. It looks like and has the same properties as the parent cast iron. If it's really an important bell the I would contact them as they know more about and have more rods for cast iron than any body.
Reply:Thermal powder spray is a viable option.  Slow cooling afterwards is essential.  I don't know about the sound.Would be a bit stressful welding on the Liberty Bell. Sent from my DROID3 using Tapatalk 2Jay DavisAWS-CWIC-60 Specialty Welding ContractorLoving husband, and father of two boys (