doonjumper
1/2 ton status
Can I use mig or do I need to use Ni rod when welding on them?
CK5
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Any cast in dana 60 stock knuckes?
- Thread starter doonjumper
- Start date
They're cast steel. Pre-heat, weld and post-heat then let cool. The slower the cooling the better. Some guys put them in a bucket of sand. I welded on my ford 60 knuckles and just let them cool on their own on the bench over night.
Cover your parts with Briquettes, lite them off as you are going to Bar-B-Que. When they get to cooking temp pull parts, do your weldment and cover them back up with the hot Briquettes. Let them cool till the Briquettes are good and cold. Never had a problem with cast weldment this way and ni-rod yes.
doonjumper
1/2 ton status
Ok cool. I have a deep pit so I usually build a fire then put work on coals before and after. Ill have to remember to take the studs out though.
You don't have to use ni-rod on the knuckles like you would have to when welding the tubes to the cast center section of an axle.
I used my 220 Hobart 187 with .035 wire and argon/co2 mix shielding gas.
I used my 220 Hobart 187 with .035 wire and argon/co2 mix shielding gas.
Stomis
Professional Amateur
I welded my inner C on my dana 44 with regular solid core and gas. No preheat, no post heat welded fine no popping or pinging. No cracks. Also welded my radius arm wedges which are cast steel the same way, no issues.
Now cast iron, different story.
Now cast iron, different story.
Yes cast steel is different then cast iron.
doonjumper
1/2 ton status
That's what I meant cast iron.
Stomis
Professional Amateur
To properly weld cast iron you're going to want to preheat your work to 500* nice and even and get the surrounding material warm so it doesnt wick the heat out too quickly.
You'll want to use Ni-Rod as you mentioned. Weld it just like steel as far as amperage and feed goes.
If you're welding a lot of stuff you'll want to stop and reheat the areas as you go. Once done welding post heat the work back up to 500*. Next you can either wrap the work in a welding blanket to slow cooling or submerge it in sand. If you're doing something like I did where I welded brackets to my pumpkin side spring perch up front and its not really feasible to wrap or cover in sand with your resources you can post heat with the torch in steps until it cools. I took about an hour to do this, baby sitting it as it cooled. Allow it to cool for about 10 mins, reheat the surface gently and bring it down in temp in about 75* steps.
You'll want to use Ni-Rod as you mentioned. Weld it just like steel as far as amperage and feed goes.
If you're welding a lot of stuff you'll want to stop and reheat the areas as you go. Once done welding post heat the work back up to 500*. Next you can either wrap the work in a welding blanket to slow cooling or submerge it in sand. If you're doing something like I did where I welded brackets to my pumpkin side spring perch up front and its not really feasible to wrap or cover in sand with your resources you can post heat with the torch in steps until it cools. I took about an hour to do this, baby sitting it as it cooled. Allow it to cool for about 10 mins, reheat the surface gently and bring it down in temp in about 75* steps.
This is why you use the Briquettes, works the same and less babysitting project
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