Welding Tips and Tricks

Interested in AC tig repair on cast iron. Is AWS ERCuAl-A2 the correct aluminum bronze alloy?

What type of cast iron is it? Is it typical grey iron? What is it that you are welding? Need more info to steer you in the right direction.

Run of the mill job shop stuff. Pump castings for example. I saw the rod mentioned on the tig rods page but there are a couple of variants of aluminum bronze.

Looking for an alternative to oxy brazing or building a firebrick oven and actually 'welding' the parts.

Thanks for the reply.

you might send jody an email directly, i think he checks that more often than the forum. I haven't welded any cast iron using Al-bronze yet, so I can't be much help directly. you might just get a few rods of different alloys from your local welding supply, though. if you've got a halfway decent manager there, he should give you them for free, if you're trying to find something that will work. just make sure you buy a pound of whatever works if he does you a solid

also, I think jody did a video on this a while ago, if you're looking for technique advice.

I could give some input, but knowing the service the part is subjected to will greatly determine the choices in process, filler metal etc...
The way you would weld a pump casting would not be the same way you would weld an exhaust manifold or the same way you would weld an engine block. Don't want to make this sound like rocket science, but the more information there is about the part being welded the better the chances of being successful.

most of my work is on pump castings, turbine and centrifigul. depeding on where the crack or break is it may require some machine work. but I always stick it with 55 Ni lincoln rod. with a good preheat. grind out good n clean. pass and grind out good and clean again going and inch or more beyond the crack. grind a nice deep v to start and go from there. good luck, hope this helps.