Interesting that you used stainless MIG wire for such good results.

I've tried ordinary MIG filler with very poor results. Was told that the MIG heat is too concentrated so only a very small volume of the part being repaired gets really hot leading to very fast cool-down producing a hardened, brittle, joint line between substrate and filler.

Presumably the poor thermal conductivity of stainless slows the cooling process enough for the joint line not to go really hard.

Generally the stick welder buttering process where the joint is opened up to a relatively large Vee and filler initially built up from several thin layers made at lowest practical current before finishing with a normal size rod effectively welding filler to filler works well enough for me. But there are times when MIG wire in a smaller Vee would be a better fit.

Clive.

A good friend of mine, a competent welder, but now sadly deceased, also used stainless on cast iron.

He normally used stainless to lay down/butter the first coat and finished off with plain steel; seemed to work well enough, even on car exhaust manifolds.

Bill

I only have oxy-acetylene gas welding and have had success with Sifbronze brazing rods and the matching flux to repair breaks in cast iron. Preheating and slow cooling is important

Brian

If that is a Stanley No 78 then there are some interesting comments here.

**LINK**

Including the expectation of Brazed repairs exactly where yours broke.

regards Martin

Martin Kyte,

Just noticed that your link is to Patrick Leach's Blood & Gore site; THE definitive Stanley plane resource on the net.

Patrick is a good friend and a great buyer and seller of rare and quality tools with a wealth of knowledge.

Cheers, Martin