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I've always been taught never to weld cast iron, but that was in the context of stoves or engines, where messing up the temper is likely to lead to catastrophe. But as a decoration, would it be okay to weld these? I think two of them turned to face away from one another as part of a sconce style wall light would look kinda neat. Or more of them surrounding a glass globe could make a neat hanging lamp that straddles the line between swag lamp and chandelier.
I think they could also be incorporated into a cool lamp or decorative shelf brackets. (Already mentioned.)
T Melville wrote:I've always been taught never to weld cast iron, but that was in the context of stoves or engines, where messing up the temper is likely to lead to catastrophe.
I have been taught the same, but have done it before when there have not been other options. Stick weld with a high graphite stick will make it easier, cast iron has a lot of carbon in it which makes it tricky.
Though I haven't done it myself yet, what I've read about cast iron is that it should be heated almost red hot before stick welding, and then after the weld is completed, to tap the welded joint with a hammer to stress-relieve it as it cools to room temperature. If you give it a try, let us know how well it turned out?
Four of them attached to a piece of wood might be feet on a low stool? Being petite, I often need a stool if I'll be sitting a long time in a chair that's too big for me (read: almost *all* chairs are too big for me) but the stool only needs to be 4 to 6 inches high.
cast is tricky to weld and yes you need the correct rods if stick welding. I would probably opt for bronze welding for something like this except I don't have the kit for it right now.
They used to weld up cast iron cylinder blocks back in the day, I assume heat control is critical as someone else pointed out.
What do the backs look like? Are there any nubs, bumps, or other bits that might work for wire attachment?
"The only thing...more expensive than education is ignorance."~Ben Franklin. "We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light." ~ Plato