Welding O1 Tool Steel

[LG63]

I need to make a stub shaft for an idler pulley with 17mm ball bearings. I’d like to use O1 steel because I can get 17mm diameter drill rod from Mcmaster. Can I weld it with MIG or AC stick? I won’t be a highly stressed weld.

 

[OccupantRJ]

My feeling is that it will fracture in the heat affected zone. Maybe these guys can help. 1018 steel should weld better.

http://www.alcobrametals.com/display.php?id=3090

 

[jason74]

Used to weld it all the time. Pulley shafts for industrial conveyors. Never had a problem unless I overheated the weld by a lot and that was when I pounded the slugs into the 3/8 wall dom tube. If your concerned about it, in certain situations I'd have a guy tig the slug for me. (I wasn't good with tig).

 

[metaleltr]

There was a thread regarding this a while ago (of course the guy was using the welded part to lift a 3000Lb car) but the general consensus was to not weld it-Choose a different alloy.

 

[LG63]

My feeling is that it will fracture in the heat affected zone. Maybe these guys can help. 1018 steel should weld better.

http://www.alcobrametals.com/display.php?id=3090

I was afraid of that. Thanks for the lead on the 1018.

 

[t100]

0.95% is a lot of carbon. it also has 0.5% each of Chromium and Tungsten. probably Tig with 312 stainless if I were you.

 

[welder4956]

I need to make a stub shaft for an idler pulley with 17mm ball bearings. I’d like to use O1 steel because I can get 17mm diameter drill rod from Mcmaster. Can I weld it with MIG or AC stick? I won’t be a highly stressed weld.

I would not go with either MIG or AC stick for this work. Either DC stick or TIG with 312 stainless rod as somone mentioned. Minimum preheat and interpass temperature should be 500°F. Slow cool under insulation or welding blanket when done.

 

[BWS]

Pre and post weld......."Time & Temperature".I've Tigged right much of it,as long as its non-life threatening.Testing with sledge hammer will show how it fractures along HAZ.

Below set-up has been very convenient.Temp gun,propane and watch the clock.