Bronze Repair

[tmonahan]

Is it possible to repair a bronze stanchion pole that is broken in two. Weld maybe back together?

[Jay Greer]

Yes
Jay

[redbopeep]

If it's not too corroded. Else your weld may not last nor have sufficient structural integrity for use on something like a stanchion.

[Paul Maselli]

Bronze welds beautifully. Use TIG (tungsten inert gas). Any welding supply can sell you silicone bronze filler rod. If the stanchion can be Vee ground and welded fully around its perimeter then you can dress out the weld and test the strength. If the strength is questionable then you can bring this repaired stanchion to a foundry and they can use it for a pattern to cast you a new blank. I've welded Silicone Bronze rudders and I've also made bronze brackets from plate stock that was cut from an old centerboard. Just be sure the metal is clean and have a good ventalation system as the process outgases a bit. Have a wire brush handy to keep the weld area clean and you'll have a beautiful solid repair to file and polish out. Good luck. I hope these options help

[seo]

It may be bent as well as being broken. If that's the case, then it has to be straightened before welding the two parts together. I think the trick there is to remember that bronze is a "hot short" metal, which means that as it's bent it becomes stiffer, then will fail. The way to avoid that is to bend it until it begins to resist. Then take your acetylene torch, with only the acetylene turned on, and coat the part with smoke. Then turn on the oxygen, and heat the part until the soot burns off. Let cool without quenching, and then bend it a little more.
The same goes for hammer-forging bronze. When it gets stiff and cranky, heat it up to anneal it, cool, work it some more.
I don't use the term "crystalize" here, which you may hear, because I'm not sure that's what's going on. It may very well be, but I dunno.
It's also possible to anneal bronze in a coal stove that's burning hot. Maybe in a hot wood fire too.
SEO

[tmonahan]

Thanks for the replies. I will try them all..