Weld hardened steel

[GraemeVW]

The vice I just finished has a chip in the jaw. I don't want to make new jaws.
I had assumed that because they are hardened, I couldn't weld it up. But I've been searching and it seems.that may not be the case.
I had assumed it would crack, or bend, or loose all its hardening.

Could I just fill this up with mig, letting it cool often, then file it back?

 

[nickk]

You’d have to pre heat the jaw first,then the resulting weld will be too hard to file and,plus you’ll lose some hardness in the jaws.

 

[Agroshield]

If you can alter the 'file it back' to 'grind/abrade it back', I think it would be OK. The interface/perimeter between new and old might not be soft enough to file. I would not start with the jaw stone cold. Preheat it a little (maybe 100-200 degrees C).

 

[GraemeVW]

I can preheat no problem.
I'm not worried about loosing some hardness, they are very hard to start with.

Hadn't considered it would be too hard to file, but I'm sure I could grind it back neatly enough.

 

[GraemeVW]

Any risk of it warping?
Worth bolting it to something? Don't want to weld it on the vice.

 

[Ali]

Turn it upside down

 

[GraemeVW]

Turn it upside down

Bolts aren't central and the bottom edge is chipped too

 

[voipio]

TIG using low current could be used to (over)fill that without any noticeable warping. Do it a "blob" at a time, cooling in between, then grind back.

 

[tom2207]

leave well enough alone ,,, its a vise .

Ive dabbed a bit of mig on a farm vise that was cut into with a grinder ,,, but i really wouldnt be starting to heat cycle vise jaws for so little damage ,,, if your going that far get a new set or make a fresh set and still keep the originals .

 

[GraemeVW]

leave well enough alone ,,, its a vise .

Ive dabbed a bit of mig on a farm vise that was cut into with a grinder ,,, but i really wouldnt be starting to heat cycle vise jaws for so little damage ,,, if your going that far get a new set or make a fresh set and still keep the originals .

Getting a new set made is a load of faff. I'd have to send these off and try and get them copied. Doable, but won't be cheap.

Welding it up I can do myself.

It's not alot of damage, but it's annoying. The vice will probably never be used, but it's very rare and although I don't mind it showing it's age and use, that chip really distracts.

I was going to just leave it, and I still might. But if it's just a case of pre heat, weld, then grind back, I may be tempted to sort it.

 

[RWD3M]

Just a thought, @Ali suggested turning them over, if you do have a go, maybe start with the bottom to see how it goes?

 

[GraemeVW]

Just a thought, @Ali suggested turning them over, if you do have a go, maybe start with the bottom to see how it goes?

Turning over isn't an option, but I could try welding one of the chips on the bottom.

I also think i may have an old vice jaw somewhere I could try too, see how it reacts.

 

[Onthespotwelding]

It’s a vice! a tool used for work it’s suppose to be battered and bruised.

 

[Ali]

It’s a vice! a tool used for work it’s suppose to be battered and bruised.

I can see how it might be detrimental if you wanted to quickly bend something

 

[tom2207]

Getting a new set made is a load of faff. I'd have to send these off and try and get them copied. Doable, but won't be cheap.

Welding it up I can do myself.

It's not alot of damage, but it's annoying. The vice will probably never be used, but it's very rare and although I don't mind it showing it's age and use, that chip really distracts.

I was going to just leave it, and I still might. But if it's just a case of pre heat, weld, then grind back, I may be tempted to sort it.

if it wont be used ,,, get the mig out ,,, let it cool in its own time and buff it off with a flap disc finish with a 3m scotch pad disc and it will be grand .

If you want to do it right ,,, heat the jaws up , let them cool to normalize them , pre heat , weld with tig using a higher carbon rod ,, then normalize , clean back , heat cycle to temper what ever steel you think it may be , clean and polish ,, and it will still just look the same as if you hit it with the mig and buffed it ,,,, but you will get a warm feeling that no one else understands ,,, sort of like peeing your pants in a dark suit.

 

[zzr1200]

Getting a new set made is a load of faff. I'd have to send these off and try and get them copied. Doable, but won't be cheap.

Welding it up I can do myself.

It's not alot of damage, but it's annoying. The vice will probably never be used, but it's very rare and although I don't mind it showing it's age and use, that chip really distracts.

I was going to just leave it, and I still might. But if it's just a case of pre heat, weld, then grind back, I may be tempted to sort it.

You could always weld it up, rough grind it, then use my surface grinder if you want it really posh, then beat the snot out of it later and put the patina back into it.....

or get a few hard facing rods???

 

[GraemeVW]

You could always weld it up, rough grind it, then use my surface grinder if you want it really posh, then beat the snot out of it later and put the patina back into it.....

or get a few hard facing rods???

Thank you

I'll think about it for a few days, see if the chip start a to bother me more, or less.

 

[brightspark]

personaly i wouldnt bother . the rest dont look perfect either side of it its not exactly a machine vice

 

[Turbo]

Unless you are very lucky any weld repair you do to that will show up as a different colour & will look as bad or worse than the damage.

If its a rare model I would leave it alone - vices are work tools & a bit of damage would be expected. Remember it can only be 'original condition' once. I know if I was buying a rare vice I'd think twice if I saw one with a naff looking weld repair.