Ordering 5lbs and 10lbs boxes of welding rod? Bolt Welding??

[mauser284]

So I am am going to be welding up an exhaust manifold (cast iron) and was going to order either Tech-Rod 99 or 55 or something similar and was wondering which would be the best to use for welding a bolt handle. I have a classic AC/DC Red Tomb Stone shaped Lincoln Arc Welder. It is too easy to add a pound of another item to the order to save on shipping latter on.

I would instinctively go with Tech-Rod 99 since it is 99% Nickle and cleans up much easier and is much more machinable. That level of nickle though would be an issue if you tried to blue it. I was wondering if even 55% Ni would be problematic as well?!?!?!I am assuming it too would be an issue.

Oh I also have OA or O/A gear so I could go that route too. I do not have TIG or I would surely use TIG.

Either way I am not sure what alloy I should look for in the filler to make sure I have the option of blueing later on should I want to blue it or another owner down the line? Thanks guys!

The more I ask this the more I think I should go the other direction and go for a general rod and look for silicone content to make it friendly with dissimilar metals and such! I feel like a dog chasing my own tail! LOL

Thanks guys!

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Are you going to try to stick weld a bolt handle? They call it micro-tig for a reason.

 

[billlarson]

Stick welding bolt handles is possible.i,ve done it BUT there are better ways...silver solder is better and tig welding is better yet with little clean up...
bill

 

[Downhill]

Been a welder for 33 years. My advice, TIG weld it. Stick welding would produce excessive build up requiring substantial materiel removal for operation. And the appearance probably would not be all that appealing.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Been a welder for 33 years. My advice, TIG weld it. Stick welding would produce excessive build up requiring substantial materiel removal for operation. And the appearance probably would not be all that appealing.

Somebody posted this pic of some fine firearm welding

 

[Downhill]

Dusty, that is kinda what I was referring to. Don't think I would call that a "weld" though.

 

[jds holler]

So I says to Bubba, "That Ranch Rifle doesn't group fer crap!" "Do ya think I'd oughta put a scope on it?"

Bubba says, "Whyncha drop it off, and I'll fix it up for ya."

 

[butchlambert]

Somebody posted this pic of some fine firearm welding
View attachment 1125035

Well, it's a Ruger. Cheaper and better to send your bolts to Dan Armstrong.

 

[okie]

Somebody posted this pic of some fine firearm welding
View attachment 1125035

hey!! thats my rifle--how'd you get that pic????!!!

 

[Will Henry]

Just a mild steel rod with minimal nickel will probably serve you best. I'm assuming you are speaking of welding a bolt handle on a Mauser which can be done with stick if you're pretty good at it. It is common practice to re-hraden the cocking cam surface after welding the handle on. This especially if you are using oxy-acetylene and a filler. The important part is to avoid undercut and the weld has to have no voids.
Look, there is no quesion TIG is a better way to do most firearms welding but guys have been welding bolt handles, receivers, and other firearms parts using Stick, MIG, Oxy-acetylene, or a coal fired forge for a couple hundred years so we can do with out the ridicule.
A fellow once came into the shop with a pair of Mauser actions where he had done the old, short one- long one alteration. He was a very skilled welder and used nothing but stick. The welds were invisible and the result was damn good. I've seen a lot of hack jobs but I've seen some good stuff too. I don't ridicule. WH