What are weights made from? cast iron?

[LoneGunman]

I'm attempting to weld a piece of 2" rigid metallic tubing to a 45lb weight(weight lifting type) , im going to use this as a stand for grinders and buffers. Im having trouble welding the conduit to weight. Im using a lincoln ac/dc 225, set on DC 105 amps using 6013 rods, im not getting much penetration into the weight, if I turn up the amperage I burn through the conduit, any ideas? Yeah Im a welding newb

 

[stangkid14]

use a stainless steal rod

 

[brianpgriset]

Are you in DCEN or DCEP?

 

[Bigger Hammer]

Find yourself some 2" tube instead of conduit. It will have heavier wall thickness which will be much easier to weld. Isn't conduit galvanized anyway?

Nickel rod seems to be the most frequently suggested filler but I did just weld on cast for the first time with 7018 DCEP. It seemed to work alright but I'm pretty sure I was a bit hot cause I think there was some stress cracks after welding it. I did pre heat as well.
One other suggestion for as well, if you are making a stand for grinders, I can only assume you will be moving this stand around from time to time. Why not make a set of legs in a tripod setup so as to reduce weight and eliminate the need to weld to an unknown quality of cast material?

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Most people i know use old steelies as grinder stand bases. Works well.

 

[DaytonFan]

use steel gas pipe works great the black pipe, wrenchr and I welded one up a couple of weeks ago using lincoln mig welder works great!!

 

[LoneGunman]

I had the welder on AC, should I be on DC?

I get the conduit for free at work (scraps) remember this is RMC not EMT, seems as thick as gas pipe to me. Yes, it's galvanized, I ground off the galvanizing before welding.

The weights were free also, just lying around. I got them out of the garbage, Ill never use them due to my already monster arms and chest , (im too lazy to use them.

 

[kbs2244]

I never liked trying to weld different kinds of metal together.
I would try and com up with a bolt together idea.

 

[Lightning]

The risk welding different metals together is galvanic corrosion. One metal will be much more active corrode preferentially while the other is protected. The active metal will corroded faster when welded to a dissimilar metal than it would if not in contact with more noble metals.

 

[george4]

If you have a gas set up available, brazing works well on many dissimilar metal applications.

 

[Mike83]

I never liked trying to weld different kinds of metal together.
I would try and com up with a bolt together idea.

I agree. Fab up whatever type of tube you want (sized to fit thru the weight hole) with a circular plate welded to it and run the tube thru the weight, drill some holes thru both and bolt her up tight. Then you can be welding the same metal.

 

[Vinko]

I agree. Fab up whatever type of tube you want (sized to fit thru the weight hole) with a circular plate welded to it and run the tube thru the weight, drill some holes thru both and bolt her up tight. Then you can be welding the same metal.

I've never known a modern version of weight lifting equipment to weld something as heavy as a 45 lb. plate to a bar, or tube. (Though I gather that you won't use it for weightlifting!). What I have seen, is a steel bar and end plate set-up: bar/washer/weight lifting plate/end-plate, where the only thing cast-iron is the plate itself. You can also put a steel sleeve over the bar btwn the washer and cast-iron plate.

In fact, I have pictures of some that we fabricated that I can show you, but I won't be able to take pics. until monday.