07-03-2014, 10:02 PM
Here's one you guys can chuckle about. Probably relates to old age, something Steve can relate to.
Some one dropped by with a Honda powered water pump the other day, that hadn't been drained last winter so the aluminum housing cracked. Should be able to weld it up but some of these castings are crap i told them. Tore the front housing off and clean it up, set it up on the bench and yah it welds horrible, the rod won't flow (tried 3 different types of rod) just sort of melts in with a horrible skin. Was a bit surprised, but built it up enough that i could cut it down smooth with a flap wheel and make it look almost passible. They asked how much i told them but don't pay me till you try it and see if it leaks.
A couple of days latter they're back, i figure shi*. Turns out that held but it was also leaking from the back, and they broke the cast iron impeller trying to take it apart for me. So I get the impeller off and the housing behind and fined another crack, welds just as horrible. Braze the impeller back together and all is well.
Finished up I go back to the sink to wash up and just happened to notice as Im passing the Tig its still set on DC from the last Stainless weld Id made. Miller injects a little AC on top of the DC so you don't have to scratch start it so the arc would start and sounds smooth but sure doesn't clean.
Some one dropped by with a Honda powered water pump the other day, that hadn't been drained last winter so the aluminum housing cracked. Should be able to weld it up but some of these castings are crap i told them. Tore the front housing off and clean it up, set it up on the bench and yah it welds horrible, the rod won't flow (tried 3 different types of rod) just sort of melts in with a horrible skin. Was a bit surprised, but built it up enough that i could cut it down smooth with a flap wheel and make it look almost passible. They asked how much i told them but don't pay me till you try it and see if it leaks.
A couple of days latter they're back, i figure shi*. Turns out that held but it was also leaking from the back, and they broke the cast iron impeller trying to take it apart for me. So I get the impeller off and the housing behind and fined another crack, welds just as horrible. Braze the impeller back together and all is well.
Finished up I go back to the sink to wash up and just happened to notice as Im passing the Tig its still set on DC from the last Stainless weld Id made. Miller injects a little AC on top of the DC so you don't have to scratch start it so the arc would start and sounds smooth but sure doesn't clean.
Free advice is worth exactly what you payed for it.
Greg
Greg