Welding mild and tempered steel, shovel blades

Post Driver

Member
Location
South East
I'm looking to repair and modify various broken spades and shovels we have kicking about.

Can it be achieved with an arc welder and dissimilar rods?

I will be welding thin walled tube for making longer handled trenching spades, shovels and my own Shove Holers from drainage spades. What are your tips for not blowing holes in the thin mild steel?

@Welding Supplies Direct any thoughts?

Thanks,
 
Location
Shropshire
Hi

You are on the right track with dissimilar electrodes either 312 or 309 grades will be fine, as far as thin material it is simply down to electrode size, with mild steel rod sizes start at 1.6mm which I would try first ........ if this is unsuccessful then the TIG process or brazing is goint to be a better solution ....... i think that the 1.6mm or 2.0mm electrodes will do it though.

Regards


Jonathan
 

ARW

Member
Location
Yorkshire
I'm looking to repair and modify various broken spades and shovels we have kicking about.

Can it be achieved with an arc welder and dissimilar rods?

I will be welding thin walled tube for making longer handled trenching spades, shovels and my own Shove Holers from drainage spades. What are your tips for not blowing holes in the thin mild steel?

@Welding Supplies Direct any thoughts?

Thanks,
post some pics of your shove holers when you have done them! then make me some, I need a pair I cant break!
 

Post Driver

Member
Location
South East
Hi

You are on the right track with dissimilar electrodes either 312 or 309 grades will be fine, as far as thin material it is simply down to electrode size, with mild steel rod sizes start at 1.6mm which I would try first ........ if this is unsuccessful then the TIG process or brazing is goint to be a better solution ....... i think that the 1.6mm or 2.0mm electrodes will do it though.

Regards


Jonathan

Thanks for the prompt response!

You guys not sell dissimilar rods then?
 
Location
Shropshire
Yes we do we are redoing our website, we will have a great selection, including hard facing, dissimilar and cast-iron we have mini packs of 312 which start at £25 (1kg), If you would like to order a packet please give us a call on 0800 121 8802 and we can post them to you. I will endeavour to get them on our online store as soon as possible.
 

Mursal

Member
Cast iron "stubs" for £25 a box, yes? That seems reasonable, do you have to preheat the work for them, like proper cast rods? Or are they the ones that leave a shiny finish, on the workpiece?
Thanks
 
Location
Shropshire
The electrodes quoted are for dissimilar electrodes the cast-iron are £44.00 per kg. Welding cast-iron as apose to cast-steel requires the following:

1. Preheat . Then weld then delayed cooling
2. Weld short runs without pre heat and then stress relieve with a chipping hammer.

Both methods are possible with all types of electrodes now days however you will get better results with quality electrodes but they do come at a premium.

There are two types of cast-iron electrodes.

1. 60/40
2. 98% Ni

If you need to know what to use and are a little unsure please give us a call on 0800 121 8802.

Regards

Jonathan
 
Last edited:

Monty

Member
I've made a couple of forks, long handle spade, rake, shovel and a hand scraper. Basically anything that had a broken wooden handle. They're all very handy and much nicer to use than the standard short ones. You'll want 2-2.5mm tube to be any use. I just use standard 3.2mm rods even on the stainless spade blade.
fork 004.JPG
 

joe soapy

Member
Location
devon
I've made a couple of forks, long handle spade, rake, shovel and a hand scraper. Basically anything that had a broken wooden handle. They're all very handy and much nicer to use than the standard short ones. You'll want 2-2.5mm tube to be any use. I just use standard 3.2mm rods even on the stainless spade blade.
View attachment 32082


turn the power down and hold rod a bit further off thn normal using 3.2 or even 4mm rods
can never get on with the thin rods
 

Monty

Member
turn the power down and hold rod a bit further off thn normal using 3.2 or even 4mm rods
can never get on with the thin rods

We've got some 1.6 rods for welding thin plate. I'm not too keen on the way they wobble all over the place. On thin stuff I just weld a spot, let it cool for a couple of second, weld another spot along the seam, let it cool etc etc. I can almost guarantee trying to weld a continuous seam will result in a big hole.
 

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