Help with repairing wrought iron gate

[Lisa Lawson]

I hope somebody can help us - my husband is trying to weld the bar back onto our wrought iron gates. The bar is the arm used to open the gates which are automatic. He has welded it back on several times, the longest it lasted was two weeks before it broke off again, which is very frustrating. He turned the heat on the welder to max but is at this moment still trying to make it stay on.

Any advice on where he is going wrong would be much appreciated!

 

[shenion]

Is it iron or steel? Did the weld get all brittle and look crystallized?

If it is iron, then you will need to use a different rod. Regular mild-steel rods pick up the carbon from the iron and gets brittle.

You want a Nickel/steel rod for iron. I picked up some "Cast Iron Rods" that I think are nickel/steel that is designed for iron or dissimilar metals.

Stainless Steel rods will work too; not ideal but it does not cause the carbon dilution problems of regular rods on iron.

If it is steel, then maybe a stronger rod: 7018's are most common over 6013 (general purpose rods.)

What size welder does he have? Maybe he can move up to a thicker rod.

 

[wyn]

I hope somebody can help us - my husband is trying to weld the bar back onto our wrought iron gates.* The bar is the arm used to open the gates which are automatic.* He has welded it back on several times, the longest it lasted was two weeks before it broke off again, which is very frustrating.* He turned the heat on the welder to max but is at this moment still trying to make it stay on.Any advice on where he is going wrong would be much appreciated!

Make sure allthe paint is removed from the two parts.If the steel is quite thick grind it down to a point and weld it with a number of welds* on top of each other.Also are the gate opening rams or motor pulling the gate too far. It might need some adjustment if it is being pulled against a stop and trying to keep going.

Is it possible to post a picture of the bracket etc.

 

[malcolm]

I should post some photos - otherwise we might be shooting in the dark a little. There's a tutorial showing how to post photos here:
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=5016

.

 

[JayRS4]

If you post up where abouts your from, one of the nice folk on here might offer to come and give you some pointers. How old are the gates, was it always a fault with them, does it stop them working properly. Just wondering if you`ve got any comeback to whoever fitted them.