Leaded steel

[Hopper]

I always use leaded steel for anything requiring machining A real pleasure to work with

Herbie, where are you buying leaded steel in Australia? My local supplier never heard of it.

 

[SmithDoor]

To weld you need to per heat very hot
I have used 12L14 works great

Dave

I have access to some "leaded steel". I'm told it's easy to machine, but not weldable. Would this be an alternative to cast iron for cylinders?

 

[Iampappabear]

McMaster does still ship to Canada, purchased some items this week, however, we are an established customer and have been for about 4 years. It must be a real pain to live in Australia when what is easily available in Europe and North America becomes almost a specialty item. We have this issue to a degree in Canada but obliviously nothing like you do in Aussie.

 

[hanermo3]

I have welded lots of 12l14 parts ..
and it is technically semi-weldable -- aka can be done but won´t be good, pretty or structurally 100% sound (in theory).

Heavy heat works better.
My parts are massive, like 30x100 mm sections 2 m long.
7018 rod is better than 6011.
Thicker rod is better.
4mm +/-, better than 3 mm, given enough amps on the welder.

I "feel" a hot preheated haz is probably much easier to do than a cold steel part.

The welds are not pretty and get inclusions - less with more heat.
They hold well and are structural, but with inclusions.

 

[DJP]

I get good results welding stainless when using stainless 310-16 or 316L rods. The slag floats to the top and is easily chipped away in big sections without inclusions. SS is a good conductor of electricity and heat which is why I like to weld with SS rods.

They also work well on cast iron when I have had to make repairs.

I suggest trying stainless rods.

 

[john futter]

stainless is an extremely poor conductor of heat and electricity which is one of the reasons why it is such a pleasure to weld
to prove my point try fusion welding of copper, gas or tig to see what I mean

 

[DJP]

Perhaps it's also the clean surface that makes it a pleasure to weld. I stick weld so that too may make a difference.