How would you fix this— broken cast iron

[Corvette Mark]

Looking for recommendations on how to fix this piece of broken cast iron. As you can see, it is a single piece which broke in two seperate spots. It doesn’t support much weight/ stress. I think the ‘right’ answer would be to weld or braze it, but that is beyond my skillset. My next thought was to drill a hole in each break and pin it, but I think it would be difficult to drill the hole perfectly aligned in the two broken sides. My third option is to epoxy it. I was also thinking of adding a brace on the side and epoxying that in place or riveting the brace on. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

 

[The Cobbler]

there's several you tube videos on repairing broken cast. I like Keith Rucker's and Keith fenners approach with gas ( not tig) and silicon bronze rod

 

[Packard V8]

there's several you tube videos on repairing broken cast. I like Keith Rucker's and Keith fenners approach with gas ( not tig) and silicon bronze rod

OP has already told us the hot wrench is above his skill set.

Sorry to say, I don't think there's any mechanical means of rejoining thin section cast iron so as to make it usable.

jack vines

 

[dutchgray]

Find someone who is good at brazing and get them to do it.

 

[Jim greengo]

What's it off of?
That would help with suggesting how to fix it.

 

[dogdog]

If it doesn’t support any or much weight silver solder 56% and black solder paste.
Yes it requires using a torch. Hire some one that can do it if not. No glue will do. You can try those new UV cured glues but they are not that strong.

 

[Firebrick43]

Looking for recommendations on how to fix this piece of broken cast iron. As you can see, it is a single piece which broke in two seperate spots. It doesn’t support much weight/ stress. I think the ‘right’ answer would be to weld or braze it, but that is beyond my skillset. My next thought was to drill a hole in each break and pin it, but I think it would be difficult to drill the hole perfectly aligned in the two broken sides. My third option is to epoxy it. I was also thinking of adding a brace on the side and epoxying that in place or riveting the brace on. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Sorry but brazing is about the only good solution. The best would be a silver brazing of 56 percent or 45 percent silver filler. It has a lower temp and therefore less distortion than bronze brazing. Ideally for this repair I would use one of the 56 percent braze paste, which has the brazing metal powdered and mixed into the flux paste and loaded in a syringe. You would clean with acetone the break, apply the paste to the joint, lightly hold it together and heat it up till it flows.

People sometimes can silver brazing silver soldering even though its above the 800 degree cut of between the two.

 

[Corvette Mark]

What's it off of?
That would help with suggesting how to fix it.

Typewriter

 

[BillK]

Is it going to be used or strictly for display ? I would drill a hole starting from the "outside" of the broken part straight through to the main part. That way the hole will be aligned properly in both parts. Then put a pin in it. Or you could use a countersunk screw to hold it more securely. Put some good epoxy on the joint and call it a day. You should be able to cover over the end of the hole so you cant see it.

If it is actually going to be used some this might not be strong enough.

 

[Drill Sergeant Arc]

I'm aware the OP doesn't want to do the repair but there are plenty of people around that can do the repair for a fee. The second video below is very interesting in that a nice finish could be achieved with filler and paint if desired. There is a specialty arc welding rod by Muggy Rod; https://www.muggyweld.com/video/weld-cast-iron/

Things have changed quickly with the development of techniques using Flux Core wire;

And;

Brazing is the tried and true method and has the lowest learning curve along with silver soldering. Take a look at those videos above and the Muggy website and their video they have. I'm suggesting you look at these so you can evaluate these techniques and decide what direction you may chose to go. Because, you may want to have a restoration rather then just a repair.

 

[BlindViper]

Where are you located?

 

[Citation]

Can you braze or epoxy a brace to the side of it. I'm guessing that it's important to have the dimensions correct so I would be worried that any type of welding or even brazing the crack itself might distort the positions you are trying to control. However, if the loads are low, an epoxy brace on the side(s) might do the trick.

 

[anndel]

Take it to a welder or machine shop and they'll do the repair right. Epoxy like JB Weld won't hold it for very long.

 

[Jim greengo]

Typewriter

Brazing should be plenty strong for that purpose,I would think.

 

[Citation]

This might be a helpful video