Spray Welding, anyone?

[Tractor Seabee]

spray welding is a pretty common practice in large machine shops that do a lot of industrial work. Back in the 70's doing large industrial machine repairs most machines with insert bearing shells did not offer undersize inserts for turned down shafts and other applications. We had very good results having shafts restored to factory spec. rather than replace them. Saved customers much $.

Ron

 

[yomax4]

I've done a ton of spray build up and hard surfacing. I have both Hot Spray and Cold Spray equipment and a crap load of assorted powders. Used to sell the stuff for many years. Still my favorite way to repair Cast Iron. Fun Stuff.

 

[yomax4]

I first thought the video title was going show welding like they do on crank shaft rebuilding but he seemed to think welding is not a good option because of heat movement, he might be right on heat movement on metal. I know on welding and or burning that I do, steel moves like crazy, but it works on crank shafts and they are just as critical as that shaft he was powder welding, wonder what the difference is, I always thought heat was heat.....

There are 2 processes for spray welding. The best for shafts would be cold spray. It's 850 degrees or less. We used temp sticks to make sure we didn't go over 850. You can't get in a hurry. At 850 the shafts don't move much and the powder is formulated to be applied at that temp. Hot spray is great for cast iron repair or hard surfacing.

 

[dragoneggs]

I've done a ton of spray build up and hard surfacing. I have both Hot Spray and Cold Spray equipment and a crap load of assorted powders. Used to sell the stuff for many years. Still my favorite way to repair Cast Iron. Fun Stuff.

It does look like fun and would be a blast to try. Old school 'additive manufacturing'.

 

[yomax4]

It does look like fun and would be a blast to try. Old school 'additive manufacturing'.

Check out the Victor or Stoody Spray Powder set. ( Hot Spray ) The vids on it are terrible and wayyyy too hot. We used to sharpen lawn mower blades and then a light coating of hard surface on the back. Never sharpen again if you don't hit rocks. The blade metal wears with use and the blades sharpen themselves. Great on thin cast too.

 

[Oldpath05]

There are 2 processes for spray welding. The best for shafts would be cold spray. It's 850 degrees or less. We used temp sticks to make sure we didn't go over 850. You can't get in a hurry. At 850 the shafts don't move much and the powder is formulated to be applied at that temp. Hot spray is great for cast iron repair or hard surfacing.

I been around welding the last 40 years and just heard about powder welding on cast last year, that was a first for me and now I see it done on steel shafts, less heat is always good. I suppose JB Weld is out of the question, thats at room temperature.........

 

[user.69169]

That Adam's a good kid, fair machine hand and a fine representation of his dad and grandfather. I believe he also has 20+ years under his belt as a fireman too. Got some good skils and wiling to learn too.

The O/A spray deal is either somethin you do regularly or a skillset you loose. Had a Castolin set years back but didn't have de work to pay the learning costs.
Before de powder process there was a AC arc process wid "special rods" supposed to do the same. It didn't. Real good way to screw up a lathe though.

 

[RoyKing]

My father told me about it in the 60's at Ford stamping plant they were using it on the punches in the dies.

 

[user.69169]

Pretty good video of de whole job usin the single powder process wid a Victor torch.

Oxy fuel shaft build up - YouTube

I got no idea why dese guys do't better shield de lathe & chuck with some sheet metal for machine protection.

 

[BrokenTrack]

I worked for a company that did that as well.

They would take a crane and just rebuild the thing from the ground up, using that to build up the spools of the winch drums and whatnot. It would take them a year to rebuild, with lots of money in put into the crane, but it was cheaper to bring them fully back to spec then it was to buy a whole new crane.

I am not sure if they still do that or not, (they might lease cranes now instead),but on my tractors and vehicles, it is a practice I have adopted and has saved me a lot of money over the years. But I am a person that likes functional and do not need shiny things.