Welding a Fireplace Heatalator

/ Welding a Fireplace Heatalator #41  
I think 900° is to hot for silicone, maybe that stove gasket calking might take that much, but either way I'm still curious on how this heatilator is going to be fixed, time for some more popcorn.

I've been wanting one of those IR thermometers for quite a while now, before this winters over I'm gonna get one.
 
/ Welding a Fireplace Heatalator #42  
I was fixing a mag drill this afternoon, looking for a #6-32 nut in my bombed-out workshop only to come across a C0 detector. Brand new, something I found somewhere years ago on a job site. Maybe it's a sign. How do they work anyway and do they expire?

The alarm contacts are not provided on that model, as seen on the silk screened pcb, but an ac/dc input and terminals marked a&b. I don't see any sounder, just LEDs indicating PPM. So, a new mystery!

But something else I was pondering. Why are there so many rods for arc welding but not different wire (except for size) for mig on ferrous material.

PLEASE buy a new CO detector or two and put them in your place, even when/if you fix this. Burning any solid fuels is a great source of CO. They are the cheapest insurance you will ever find.

CO detectors do wear out...I think the sensor life is around 7 years or so.

I am most definitely not the safety police, but my own experience with burning solid fuels has taught me that CO is no joke, and for less than 30 dollars you can protect yourself and your family.

If you haven't been there before, Hearth.com Forums Home is a great resource for all wood burning.

-Joe
 
/ Welding a Fireplace Heatalator #43  
But something else I was pondering. Why are there so many rods for arc welding but not different wire (except for size) for mig on ferrous material.

In my opinion, you should be comparing stick rods to flux core wire feed instead of solid wire mig.

Solid wire mig and tig rods are pretty similar in that they don't have as many options - it's just a filler rod.

Flux core wires on the other hand have lots of variations similar to the way stick rods are designated.
 
/ Welding a Fireplace Heatalator
  • Thread Starter
#44  
I might just try and get the Mig into the project but it's difficult. I have become quite good at repairing my welding screw ups, like burn threws, with the mig and have not used the buzz box in years.


DSC04571.JPG


I bought the welder on that cart. Surprised it was allowed in a Big company, in that unstable configuration. I mounted the Plasma below for convenience and single plug power. Plus, despite having lots of security in place (but no insurance) , this thing would be difficult to throw into the back of a pickup.

So if I can figure a way to get it stable on forks, I could drive it up to a window adjacent the fire place.
 
/ Welding a Fireplace Heatalator #45  
If you can get the mig welder near the heatilator, I assure you it will be easier to repair that crack. Just a little wire brushing on it, with mig you can just keep pushing the trigger off and on to fill the crack, make sure nothing going to catch on fire when welding on it, I'm assuming in the house, fire extinguisher and or water should be near by.
 
/ Welding a Fireplace Heatalator
  • Thread Starter
#46  
I was hoping to get a welding blanket on sale, which is good to have anyway. And someone watching. A while ago, I was welding galvanized. Set my old jacket on fire more than once and my hair as well.
 
/ Welding a Fireplace Heatalator #47  
All RV trailers have both propane gas and CO detectors as required items along with a smoke detector. CO is colorless and odorless and is a product of incomplete combustion. I'm in "CO detector is good safety" camp. CO binds with hemoglobin in the blood instead of oxygen and is not released.
 
/ Welding a Fireplace Heatalator #48  
Don't listen to me but I would vee out the crack with a grinder with a nice 90deg edge and then drill stop drill the ends. Since I only have a MIG, I would fill the crack with that and hope for the best. Can't hurt... as far as I know. I do know I would try to fill the void.
 
/ Welding a Fireplace Heatalator #49  
I might just try and get the Mig into the project but it's difficult. I have become quite good at repairing my welding screw ups, like burn threws, with the mig and have not used the buzz box in years.


View attachment 530965


I bought the welder on that cart. Surprised it was allowed in a Big company, in that unstable configuration. I mounted the Plasma below for convenience and single plug power. Plus, despite having lots of security in place (but no insurance) , this thing would be difficult to throw into the back of a pickup.

So if I can figure a way to get it stable on forks, I could drive it up to a window adjacent the fire place.

Too bad you don't know someone with a 115v mig unit to use. It would be adequate for the job.
 
/ Welding a Fireplace Heatalator
  • Thread Starter
#50  
We had snow here overnight, which just might stay and that makes things more difficult. Plus, my helper and spotter is only here on the weekend, and we usually have a fire going.
 
/ Welding a Fireplace Heatalator
  • Thread Starter
#51  
FINALLY got to this, in conjunction with gluing the mantel back on.

Dragged my Lincoln 250 MIG into the house and living room.

When I could not even tack a bolt onto the side of the heatalator, for a ground, I thought it was a bust. I could not get bright metal with a stone, but eventually got the bolt tacked on. I did not even attempt to add a patch, preferring just to try and close the crack. It worked, but has to be my ugliest weld EVER. Hey. I'm pleased it worked and will make a fire shortly. May 8, and Snow Squalls here!
 
/ Welding a Fireplace Heatalator #52  
I was welding one year at a fabrication shop, and they had a cast iron job came up, and so I got the job.

I hate welding cast iron.

But they gave me a to do list, I followed it, and then...they were doing x-ray in the shop, so for fun, they x-rayed my welds. The worst thing ever happened: it passed, because after that, guess who got all the cast iron to weld?

At home, I weld cast iron, but I have found for stick rod 6011 rod works well. Yes it takes preheat and post heat, but it pulls enough cast iron into the steel filler rod to make it really work well. I might use real cast iron rod, but I do not weld enough of it to justify a box of cast iron rod, and 6011 works just fine (with preheat and post heat obviously).
 
/ Welding a Fireplace Heatalator
  • Thread Starter
#53  
Interesting. But I don't think this was cast iron. Just steel that has seen thousands of fires sind 1972.
 

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