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Cracked silicon bronze casting
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Cracked silicon bronze casting
I've gone and cracked the arm on my lower rudder pintle. I'm wondering can cast silicon bronze be welded?
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Re: Cracked silicon bronze casting
Welding, brazing, or silver soldering silicon bronze is a bitch. Needs expensive tools and perfect technique. I'd just cast a new one, honestly. Easier. -
Re: Cracked silicon bronze casting
Did you crack the pin or the attachment end Andrew ? If it's the pin perhaps you could drill it out and use a length of 316 round in place ? That shouldn't be too difficult.
It might be worth asking your local welder if he has the right filler rods for his TIG , he may be able to do a repair but I have no idea of the difficulties of welding silicon bronze. Some of the other bronze alloys aren't too difficult.'' You ain't gonna learn what you don't want to know. ''
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Re: Cracked silicon bronze casting
My approach would either be silver solder with 56% silver rod and LPG/oxygen, or else TIG with silicon bronze filler. There will be a bit of a line with the silver solder, as the filler is a tad lighter than bronze. If it's in a spot where people will see it, I'd go the TIG with bronze.
Indeed, PM me and I'll give you my address. Send it across to me and I'll solder it back together for ya.Comment
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Re: Cracked silicon bronze casting
How big a boat? How big are the working stresses? Is it an underwater fitting? (Mixing metals leads to galvanic corrosion) How corroded or worn was the part? Was there an inclusion or corrosion which caused it to fail in the first place? What alloy was it made from in the first place?
A fresh casting avoids a lot of questions about a part which if it fails underweigh will disable your boat's steering.
Of course if it's just a lil' thang, solder away, and don't worry.Comment
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Re: Cracked silicon bronze casting
James, it's a 22' Oughtred grey seal. I'm pricing a new one now for the reasons you state. Part is brand new. Stupid me forced arms to splay out to fit new keel. I thought an 1/8" couldn't hurt, but the casting thought otherwise. Expensive mistake. Being the rudder I'm leaning towards a newy otherwise it'll always be on my mind. You can see fitting in my thread " Oughtred grey seal" in building/repair #326.
Canoeyawl, does that include castings. I've emailed manufacturers to see what breed of bronze it actually is, I'm guessing silicon but could be phosphorous maybe, dunno
another factor is that this rudder is quite big maybe weighing 20 or 30 kg bouncing up and down on this lower fitting. Sure it's in water but but on the trailer???
i have another shipment coming from suppliers any way so I guess I've talked myself into just writing it off as an expensive f..k upLast edited by andrewpatrol; 09-26-2014, 01:56 AM.Comment
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Re: Cracked silicon bronze casting
Is it locally made Andrew? Foundries here love gunmetal unless the alloy is otherwise specified.'' You ain't gonna learn what you don't want to know. ''
Grateful DeadComment
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Re: Cracked silicon bronze casting
How big a boat? How big are the working stresses? Is it an underwater fitting? (Mixing metals leads to galvanic corrosion) How corroded or worn was the part? Was there an inclusion or corrosion which caused it to fail in the first place? What alloy was it made from in the first place?
A fresh casting avoids a lot of questions about a part which if it fails underweigh will disable your boat's steering.
Of course if it's just a lil' thang, solder away, and don't worry.
I was perhaps a little modest in my first post. I have a fair bit of experience with brazing bicycles, which are a lot more fiddly than boat bronze. I wouldn't hesitate to solder it back together, and would be confident that the repaired casting would be every bit as strong as the original.Comment
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Re: Cracked silicon bronze casting
Peter, it's one of Classic Marine's from England.
we have decided to go with a new one being the lower fitting it'd be always be on my mind in a blow which is how I like to consider these problems, cos there's no-one there to come fish you out when the chips are down.
thanks for the input everyone especially Suzi for your kind offer.Comment
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Re: Cracked silicon bronze casting
What ever makes you comfortable Andrew ! She's going to be a great boat .'' You ain't gonna learn what you don't want to know. ''
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Re: Cracked silicon bronze casting
Jay, I'm not sure what breed of bronze it is, that was just a guess. I've done a rough calc of the postage from here to England plus the manufacturers quote for repair and it comes out about 20% less than a new one, so I think a new one definitely.Comment
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