Repair weld cast iron thing

[Jonathan Webb]

Hello, I bought this last year & it broke on the first use (successfully fitted about a dozen press studs) and it accidentally got put away so no comeback with the retailer now. I wondered if anyone on here would weld it together again and possibly add a bit of reinforcement if that was feasible?
Any idea of how much I'd expect to pay for that here, or if I sent it off to a commercial place if I can find one (W Sussex) or anywhere? Reluctant to buy a new one, as I'm concerned that it would break again if they're generally cheaply made but cost a few bob despite that and I'm not awash ATM.
Thanks
J

 

[nickk]

I often weld cast together,a lot of welders and smiths won’t,so if you try a few shops be prepared,I also tell the customer I don’t know until I try it as there’s all sorts of rubbish in the mix,especially from the Far East.
If successful I’d charge about £40+vat.
I’m from mid Sussex originally,near Billingshurst there’s a steam workshop,one of the Langley family maybe?
Ask on local FB group,I’ve been away a long time,good luck.

 

[Mikes]

A simple repair would be to get hold of a suitable size piece of steel plate and drill / tap / bolt the two broken sections to it so as to form a steel shoe. Wouldn't attempt to weld as Nickk says, could be all sorts of rubbish in the cast. Holes are already in the big bit. Probably four additional in the small bit and it would be done.

 

[Erie Fred]

Just pasting it back together will probably result in the same break a few days later.
As above, I would make a steel plate under it.
Are you going to re-align bore when done ?

 

[tom2207]

drill a few holes ,,, pack the hollow spaces with some decent wood , screw the hole thing to a bit of decent timber ,,, maybe t nut and bolt it to the wood if your feeling sporty ,,, job done

 

[voipio]

Brazing might be an option.

Brazing Cast Iron: The Basics - Weld Guru

Cast iron (gray, white and malleable) is a man-made alloy made from iron, carbon, and silicon. A portion of the carbon exists as free carbon or graphite.

weldguru.com

 

[8ob]

Another vote for adding a bit of strength with a steel plate, the base looks like it accommodate a nice bit of flat steel. Combine the steel with the cast iron weld repair, should all weld together ok.

Bob

 

[doubleboost]

I will repair and strengthen it for you .
Postage may be a pain .
The offer is there .

 

[brightspark]

Brazing might be an option.

yea with a decent propane torch to heat the whole lot up to verry dull red and braze the vee out joint with oxyacetylene or oxy propane torch

 

[Smouser]

@doubleboost if you do repair it, you must record it of course!

 

[Gareth J]

Looks like it might be designed to be used screwed down to a bench. Maybe it was when it broke anyway but that should help minimise stress

 

[minimutly]

Looks like it might be designed to be used screwed down to a bench. Maybe it was when it broke anyway but that should help minimise stress

Yes, defo should be bolted down in use, maybe that’s why it broke?

 

[6ply]

It's a button press isn't it? Were you using it for something a bit more demanding and so it broke? If so maybe you could get yourself a mini flypress or Arbor press.

 

[sasquar]

what you need is genuinely in the for sale section, advertised by @HughF, basically a heavy duty version of what you have, that we found whilst tidying up at his place.....

edit: just been to find the link for you, it sold about 2 hours ago by the looks of things!! now in the 'sold listings'....

 

[James1979]

I’ll be listing one now…..

 

[Jonathan Webb]

Another vote for adding a bit of strength with a steel plate, the base looks like it accommodate a nice bit of flat steel. Combine the steel with the cast iron weld repair, should all weld together ok.

Bob

That was my thinking over buying another.

 

[Beanwood]

what you need is genuinely in the for sale section, advertised by @HughF, basically a heavy duty version of what you have, that we found whilst tidying up at his place.....

edit: just been to find the link for you, it sold about 2 hours ago by the looks of things!! now in the 'sold listings'....

Yep - that’s on the way to me
Sorry
Looks as if you missed @James1979 one as well. Try the weld and reinforcements suggested above or get a small arbor press cheap new, even cheaper off Facebook pre owned

 

[Jonathan Webb]

Minimutly & Gareth J. Nothing about that about that in the blurb. Stainless press studs on a sail. The supplier knew that as there was an amount of discussion about the correct dies. At no point did hey a sail was too tough, or that it should be screwed to a bench or even a board (although that would be wise, but hindsight is a wonderful thing). What I need is way out of my budget... https://www.jclarkemarine.com/produ...nal-button-tool-sets-snaps-snap-fastener-tool

 

[Jonathan Webb]

I will repair and strengthen it for you .
Postage may be a pain .
The offer is there .

Will DM you. Thanks

 

[keithski122]

What I need is way out of my budget... https://www.jclarkemarine.com/products/hoover-press-n-snap-tool-professional-button-tool-sets-snaps-snap-fastener-too

We have one of the press-n-snap tools at work, great bit of kit but well pricey.