How useful welding is in DIY?

[spader]

I have this vintage Pillar Drill bought from eBay a few year ago. It weighs about 25kg.
It was couriered by the seller, but arrived in 3 broken pieces.

It had been sitting in the shed for all that time, and now I feel it is time to repair it in some way.
The only way I could think of repairing it and it could be used is either by welding or joining the broken parts with some sort of metal pad and bolts and nuts with drilling.

Because it is a very heavy item, I am not sure which method is best. And I don't know anything about welding. But I am thinking of buying a welder and bits and pieces trying to have a go repairing the broken pillar drill.

Would it be reasonable attempt for a newbie like me buying a welder and trying to weld the drill? Or would it better trying join them with bolts and nuts?

How easy is welding to learn? Would it be a must skill for DIYer? Or is it regarded as a professional work?

 

[Burnerman]

Many pillar drill parts are actually cast iron, which means welding is not a diy task.
Lets have a few photos and we’ll try hard to help!
John

 

[conny]

Even if it isn't made of cast iron, (though it sounds as though it is), you will still need to line the parts up precisely, achieve a good strong weld and be able to grind smooth to a perfect finish.

 

[Exedon]

In another life I was a pipeline welder ticketed to Lloyd's C1 finished with a G6 ticket.
Cast welding is far from easy typically needing pre heating then steady cooling when welded.
Generally manual metallic arc is regarded as best method tho I have successfully brazed grey cast using tig brazing

 

[Munroast]

In another life I was a pipeline welder ticketed to Lloyd's C1 finished with a G6 ticket.
Cast welding is far from easy typically needing pre heating then steady cooling when welded.
Generally manual metallic arc is regarded as best method tho I have successfully brazed grey cast using tig brazing

Was watching something on tele recently on a restoration project, they had some cast iron to repair, it was taken to a specialist foundry where they slowly heated it overnight to something like 1000°C (cant remember exact figure) then they welded it whilst at that temperature, then they took another day to cool it before being able to examine it to see if it had been repaired successfully - its clearly a highly involved and skilled process. (a bit beyond my snottering something together with a mig)

 

[mrrusty]

(a bit beyond my snottering something together with a mig)

That sounds like me too. To answer the OPs question is welding useful - I'd say it is handy to have a cheap MIG set around - I've used mine infrequently but when I do, it's been extremely handy. Had it 10 years and still on the original spool of wire!

However, what everyone else says - many welding jobs are specialised and require both experience and the right gear.

 

[Burnerman]

Just a wee point regarding the infrequent use of a MIG welder (in my experience anyway.....)
I wrap the wire spool in cling film after use (on the machine) - although the wire is copper coated it rusts easily and this can cause difficulty driving the wire through the feed rollers....having said that, my lockup garage is a little damp.
I used to keep a couple of those disposable Machine Mart argon cylinders in stock, but the welder wasn't used for nearly a year. When I connected them up they were empty now it's a Hobbyweld cylinder for me with twin gauges.
John
P.S I can bronze weld some castings with reasonable success - using oxy acetylene with a bloody great nozzle and pink Sifbronze flux. Broken smoothing planes (across the throat) are one example but I also filled an ice crack in a little grey Fergie tractor cylinder block....obviously I couldn't tell how thorough the penetration was, but it didn't leak afterwards.
J

 

[Exedon]

If your buying a welder depends on what your going to weld as to what to get.
If you're only going to stick bits of mild steel together cheap mig will do or even stick welder.
If your going to try more exotic metals Tig way to go just bit more difficult to learn,and you can braze with Tig very clean and needs no flux as shielded.
Having said that I still do so much oxy acetylene welding just like the skill involved! No longer a cheap way to weld unless you need a gas axe as well.

 

[spader]

Yup, thanks for all your great advice and info. I have been extremely busy past few days working on the new fence post and panels, and packing parcels to post and clearing the loft etc.
I will try to get some photos of the broken pillar drill when the weather gets better and time allows.

I don't want to buy any welding machine, if I could get away with something which will join the broken pillar drill, and up and working.
But it seems one of the only ways to get the drill working again.

The other method I am gong to try first anyway is get some M8 bolts nuts and washers, and using metal brackets or pads drill some holes into them, and just line the broken parts of the drill, and fastening with spanner, and see if it will hold up the drill standing. It will also help welding, if concluded later welding is the only way to fix it.

I was reading about brazing method, which seems cheapest way to weld. Just get a good blow torch and brazing rod, and pre-heat the broken drill part, and weld with gas torch and brazing rod.

But perhaps through time I will look into more learning about proper welding and get a good welding gear set in the future.

 

[Burnerman]

Brazing - or high temperature soldering, if you like - is a brilliant way of fixing ferrous metals.
However, the metal needs to be red hot over the entire join area so you need to have a suitable torch to do this.
Mapp gas for example is as hot as you’ll generally get, but only small section materials can be joined with it.
John

 

[spader]

It seems solder welding is not simple job which requires lot of thought and process to get it right.

 

[cdbe]

Don't waste you time, effort or money trying to weld cast. Your idea of fixing with plates/nuts/bolts is far more likely to succeed - the only thing is that you'll probably need a decent pillar drill to drill all the holes.....

 

[spader]

That is what I am going to do as first step. Thanks

 

[spader]

Still thinking of doing brazing rod welding on my broken pillar drill. This video is teaching me a lot before preparing for the job. With brazing rod welding, only thing I need is a couple of bottles of MAPP gas and pack of brazing welding rods, it seems. Clean the welding area with angle grinder, and fasten the pieces with jubilee clips or some type of clamps, and then start brazing welding.

 

[spader]

Kept watching youtube videos on welding, and learnt some basic skills and equipment for welding. I chose to use Arc (stick) welding for the simplicity.
Bought a couple of cheap welders from eBay and Amazon. Have done some welding practice with scrap metal and 6013 rods.
And welded the broken iron cast vintage pillar drill. It took a few days for cleaning up the broken parts to be welded prior to welding with dremmel, and waiting for dry weather doing it outdoor in the garden.
Today, it has been all done. The pillar drill was solid, and working OK. Did some drilling on chunk of wood, and it was drilling nicely.
Welding can be dangerous due to high amp it uses and crazy hot temp generated from the welding rods and the base metal during welding process. But if all the safe regulations are kept heeded, and one know what is going on, it is a very useful DIY activities. It can do a lot in DIY.