Thread: Building up worn axe heads

Hi guys.. Is it possible to weld a piece of harder steel to replace the worn down/ground away section of an axe.. something like a piece of leaf spring or large file ?
Ken.

Isn't that what hard-facing electrodes are used for?
(Building up worn steel surfaces)

Michael

Originally Posted by Michael G

Isn't that what hard-facing electrodes are used for?
(Building up worn steel surfaces)

Michael

Hi Micheal,
The typical application for HARDfacing is on the cutting edges and cheeks of a ground engaging tool- read bulldozer blade In reality the hardfacing forms a thin skin on the blade surfaces.

If any deep wear has occurred it is brought up to level with low hydrogen based electrodes- ie basically maganese steel. Hardfacing performs best when it is relatively thin in cross section. Stay away from welding hardfacing if you can, it is toxic poisonous stuff.

Kenny_10

If I were to repair an axe using electrode welding I would be using the LHyd. electrodes to weld the spring steel.

If you choose leaf springs make sure they are pretty old ones as the steel in the last 30 years is not really suitable.
The blacksmiths in our group will be able to tell you why.

The completed welded axe will require heat treating and tempering to give an edge that will perform.

Grahame

"Stay away from welding hardfacing if you can, it is toxic poisonous stuff"

Is it the flux that is the problem, would bare rods as used in oxy/acet be ok

Originally Posted by China

"Stay away from welding hardfacing if you can, it is toxic poisonous stuff"

Is it the flux that is the problem, would bare rods as used in oxy/acet be ok

G'day China

Both flux vapours and metallic vapours.

It is mainly the metals that make up that particular hardfacing alloy. There is not just one hardfacing alloy ,there are a few.

They contain nasty metals like chromium, nickel, manganese, boron and tungsten.

It is the metallic vapors present in your breathing zone by virtue of the molten arc that can do the damage. Breathing in these vapours to the pulmonary system is the major vector of entry to the body.

I will quote from the Hazards of Welding a 90's publication from the Australian Metal Workers Union researched by Ken Bartlett.

Here's the breakdown of the effects :

Boron Irritant to eyes,skin and respiratory tract.

Chromium Irritant to lower respiratory tract, irritant to eyes, nose throat and lungs. Mutations . cancer of nose, larynx and lungs.

Maganese Chronic damage to brain/nervous system, irritant to eyes nose ,throat and lung

Nickel Skin and respiratory allergies.Mutations,cancer of the lung.


Vanadium Irritant to skin, eyes, nose and throat. Green tongue, bronchitis chemical pneumonia,. Pulmonary odema.

There is still more on fluxes but I am have to go out so I''ll come back to it latter.

Grahame

Originally Posted by Grahame Collins;[URL="tel:1998707"

1998707[/URL]]

Stay away from welding hardfacing if you can, it is toxic poisonous stuff.


Grahame

In my experience hard facing MIG is even worse than stick. Working in a quarry years ago and we went to MIG for hard facing, I could only weld for 5 minutes before throwing up, so quickly refused to do it without a proper helmet respirator, apparently they were too expensive, I stood my ground and got sacked. One of the best things that ever happened to me, getting sacked.

Cheers Andrew