{"id":307,"date":"2021-08-29T08:46:02","date_gmt":"2021-08-29T08:46:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/welderacademy.com\/?p=307"},"modified":"2021-10-22T18:27:10","modified_gmt":"2021-10-22T18:27:10","slug":"how-to-weld-steel-to-cast-iron-the-complete-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/welderacademy.com\/how-to-weld-steel-to-cast-iron-the-complete-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Weld Steel to Cast Iron: The Complete Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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If you are someone who likes to get a bit hands-on and love DIY-ing, then at one point in time you probably thought about welding yourself. Now, as a beginner, you might wonder how to weld steel to cast iron. And that is exactly what I will be covering in this article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can weld steel to cast iron but there are some key things you need to make sure of. First up is keeping cracks in control. This is one of the most important things. Then depending on what kind of weld you want to go with TIG or MIG welding can be done.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not all cast iron alloys will act the same. And keeping the cracks in check is hardly an easy thing to do. Also, there are important steps and precautions you need to take like pre-heating. So, let\u2019s get into all this in a bit more detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Welding Steel to Cast Iron<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Alright, so let\u2019s get to the meat of the topic. How do you weld steel to cast iron? There are a couple of ways that work. You need to make sure you are doing it the right way. That will ensure that the weld will hold for longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before you go on to weld cast iron, it is better to know that most welders will actually avoid welding cast iron. This is because of the reasons I mentioned before. Cast iron is difficult to work with and can crack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These cracks can cause the weld to fail over time which will, of course, be devastating. You can try using mechanical fasteners. This isn\u2019t the prettiest solution but it lets you drill a hole for a bolt or pin. But before we go into the steps, let\u2019s take a look at the two most common types of welds you are probably going to be doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Welding Steel to Cast Iron for Decorative Purposes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the common welds you will perform is for decorative purposes. These types of welds do not need to be super strong. All you need for decorative welding is to \u2018stick\u2019 the steel to the iron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For these types of welds, you can use a stainless-steel wire along with an FCAW. FCAW stands for Flux-core Arc Welder. This is also called gasless MIG. Stainless steel has a high nickel content. That will make it stick together pretty well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Welding Steel to Cast Iron When You Need a More Solid Bond<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes you do not want to just go by with a normal bond. If you need the bond to be very sturdy and durable, you will need to do some real welding. In situations that call for a stronger connection using MIG or TIG welding is the way to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure you use a nickel-based wire rod (also called Ni-rod) for this process. I suggest hitting up your local welding shop\/supplier and getting professional suggestions from there. They are most likely to know what will work best and also can advise you on the right welding rods you should use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Generally, steel is very weldable and easy to work with. Cast iron is the difficult part in this whole equation. You can try some unconventional methods to weld. Some will lay a nickel weld bead, actually. It will go on each piece separately and you weld over the beads and join it together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step-by-Step Guide to Welding Steel to Cast Iron<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you follow these steps, you should end up with a pretty solid weld for the most part. So, let\u2019s get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1 \u2013 Check the Parts Thoroughly<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your first step before you start any welding will be to actually check the parts. Make sure there are no signs of stress or cracks. Any signs of damage are a no-go. You will need to order a replacement part if you want the perfect weld in that case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2 \u2013 Check the Alloy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Next up is checking the alloy. You need to be 100% sure what you are working with is indeed cast iron. There are different kinds of alloys and each will act a bit differently. Know that some cast iron alloys are easier to weld.<\/p>\n\n\n\n