heating cast iron

[jlasater 185]

A rosebud tip on a torch is a good way to go. Soft even heat, compared to a regular welding tip. Pre and post heat treating is important if your welding some cast iron parts. Using a propane torch to heat a casting to pull or put in a bearing shouldn't hurt anything though. You can get Templaq sticks that indicate what temperature the metal is your heating so you don't over do it if your worried.[A href='http://www.wheatfarm.com']http://www.wheatfarm.com[/a]

[MPH 12]

Thanks for the feedback, coca cola did the trick, see post of best rust penetrat..Love the info feedback on this site, wish I could find one half as good for those 2 gilsons that jumped a ride home in my ole Dodge....MPH

[MPH 12]

As hi-school shop class was many years ago, the only metal workin ed I've had, can't recall if putting heat to cast iron, like a gear box is bad news or not. Trying to get a tiller housing to swivel, so I can make a root ripper out of it. MPH

[JCS 0]

Marty, It depends on the grade of cast iron and the amount of heat. I always heat cast iron with a torch before I electric weld it (less chance of cracking from a sudden temperature change). You can heat high grade cast iron (fine grain) until it is cherry red. The low grade stuff will usually melt and/or shatter. The trick is to slowly heat a large area.