welding pot metal

Hey I won't mention my car because it's off topic, but the question is on topic and this is probably the best place to get answers on it. the question is about welding pot metal, the "off topic" car has a really rare set of electric mirrors that fold themselves up, I just discovered one is not functioning, i took it apart and the pot metal base where it anchors to the mirror base is broken off. Replacing these are not an option, they traveled by friend relay, all the way from japan, to New Zealand, to Northern canada, and finally shipped to me. These things are 25 years old and they don't exist anymore, so I need to fix this, I ran across a product called super alloy 1 from Muggy weld, it's supposed to weld pot metal at 350 degrees with a propane torch, has anyone ever tried this? or anything like it? It;s pretty steep in price, and i will never use an entire half pound package of the stuff, thats a lot of dough when you are laid off, 55 bucks for a half pound, any ideas on fixing this or anything that works would be greatly appreciated. I still have to dismantle the motor to take out the driven shaft,which is what this piece if broken off of. I'm sure anyone on here who has found something super rare and then had it break knows that sinking feeling.

 

again i'm sorry if it seems kind of off topic but most of the other boards i belong to, the question would be "whats a weld?" or "what's pot metal? " the technical knowledge on this board amazes me a lot of times.

 

Probably the common zinc alloy used for most automotive ornamentation.

 

I have some rods that are comparable to the muggy weld rod you mentioned. If you want, I will send you a few rods no charge. Welding pot metal can be hit or miss, but it is worth a shot. You might also just try cleaning it up real good and using a cold weld like JB Weld to repair it.

If all else fails, you can makes friends with someone that has a small home foundry setup and get them to cast you a whole new bracket out of aluminum.

 

I would try JB weld. If it doesn't work you can always chip it out or sand it out. Good luck.

 

thanks i'll pm you Jb weld is out of the question as one of the screws that holds the base is in this piece too much load.

 

What are the mirrors for and can you post a pix I would like to see were you want to weld. I have a friend I will show. He welded some Packard taillight housings for me that were pot metal

 

When I had a '41 Chevy spinner wheel on eBay I had guys tell me they were welding the pot-metal somehow, but no one ever explained just how they do it. Those wheels crack in a couple places on the middle bars due to stress over the years, so I ***ume the welds have some strength to them.

 

i'll pm you a link, if i post them here it will get deleted.

 

I bought some of these rods at a fair or swap meet some years ago and used it once on some pot metal sliding door screen hardware. It seemed to be fairly easy to use and the screen is still functioning. The flux looks like it might be specific to the rods so keep that in mind if you get some rods to try. I believe I still have the instruction sheet; if you need a copy send me a PM.

 

Alumalloy is supposed to work. It's a flux type aluminum weld rod that you can work w/a propane torch. The turds at the stand said it works on pot metal, but they where just trying to sell stuff. I'd search it and buy it from the manufacturer. If you get it at a show it's half rods for twice the price.

 

It can be done with a TIG torch in the right hands.

Not my hands mind you, but I've watched the guy that does my race engines weld up more than one pot metal vent window frame. Watched him fix a AT shifter bell off a 60something Mopar steering column too. That one was corroded so thin he basically had to face the entire inside of it.

IIRC, he just used 1100 alum rod, and no flux of any kind. I dunno, so don't take that as gospel, 'cause I've never done it, I just know that it can be done.

It's just a matter of finding someone with the right skills in your area.

 

I have used Muggy Weld to cut out the speedometer web on my 54 Chevy guage bezel to make room for an extra gauge. It worked for me but the part is purely decorative and I don't know how it would hold up under the stresses of movement.

http://i419.photobucket.com/albums/pp271/Luvsa54BelAir/CustomGaugepanel.jpg

 

hey lostforawhile,
i have a bunch of antique engines iv needed parts for over the years, and iv located some Amish people that run a foundry.
if nothing else works for yu, let me know.
iv got several parts from these people and they do very nice work.
cheers.
elwood