Black Pipe Frustration

[blocks5757]

Trying to stick weld a section of ¾” black pipe to a 25lb weight. See photos for set-up. I keep blowing through the pipe without any penetration into the weight. Machine is an ARC-160 set at 160 current & Arc Force of 5. Using E6013, 1/8” rods. Photos added. Newbie, so any suggestion would be helpful.

[John T]

That looks like cast-iron to me.
I hope you're not trying to make any type of weightlifting equipment

Even if you do preheat it and get it to stick it will still probably break and fall on your head.
Sooner or later


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[Roert42]

Can you get a puddle going at all on the weight, forgetting about the pipe?

I would assume the weight is cast, making it hard to weld. If it is you would probably want to use something designed for dissimilar metals or Nickle rod, or braze it with a torch.


Might just be easier to attach them using some mechanical fasteners. slide the pipe through the weight and put a locking collar on either side so it cant move.

[jpump5]

Tried to turn a 10 lb.weight in a lathe to try to make a flywheel.It had voids
and pockets of some sort of dirt.Destroyed cutting tools. Some sort of really
crude cast iron. Made bed frame angle iron look good by comparison

[WNY_TomB]

probably cast iron, usually need nickel rod to stick weld. some will braze it with a torch. if weld is brittle a cast iron weld can snap with
little warning, preheat and slow cooling can help
.
usually welding thick to thin, rod points toward and favors the thicker side might weave to thin side quickly just to get puddle to thin part, often
2/3 to 3/4 of weld puddle on the thick part (where extra heat needed)
.
others us a inline weave with bigger rod again favoring thick part, inline weave going forward then backing up some periodically,
hard to describe, inline weave popular among some pipe welders
.
welding thick stuff over 1/2" thick to say thin conduit thats .040" to .060" thick can be difficult. some use dab dab. that is often bigger
rod running relatively high amp, welding 1/2 to 1 second, stop arc and wait a second or 2, weld another dab, stop, dab, stop, dab
....dab dab welding many youtube videos showing .060 and even .040" thick or thin tubing being stick welded. some weld a dab going across joint,
sort of like a single side weave, stopping arc waiting, thats why called dab dab, a dab of weld at a time pausing each dab. some lean rod
quite a bit so arc force not as strong. usually got to favor the thicker side to not burn through the thinner side

[John T]

Tried to turn a 10 lb.weight in a lathe to try to make a flywheel.It had voids
and pockets of some sort of dirt.Destroyed cutting tools. Some sort of really
crude cast iron. Made bed frame angle iron look good by comparison

Most of those Olympic weights are made in China.

It's all the crap metal we send them... stolen shopping carts/manhole covers, hubcaps and ... yep bed frames.

[Lis2323]

That looks like cast-iron to me.
I hope you're not trying to make any type of weightlifting equipment

Even if you do preheat it and get it to stick it will still probably break and fall on your head.
Sooner or later


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what john said^^^^^

if not for weightlifting can you weld a bracket to the black pipe and attach to the plate weight mechanically ? (bolted or?)

[StandarDyne]

I'm with John T and Lis. Probably crap cast iron. No weldie.

Alternately, you might be able to braze-weld it, but I'm guessing you don't have oxy-acetylene. Got epoxy?

[tapwelder]

I am glad you sought advice. If it were the best cast iron, welded with 6013 you would still have potentially disastrous results.

Good luck

[CAVEMANN]

Most of those Olympic weights are made in China.

It's all the crap metal we send them... stolen shopping carts/manhole covers, hubcaps and ... yep bed frames.

Those molds look like they came out of a copper smelter. I agree, those weights are probably cast iron. Be careful with them if you weld them.

[Lis2323]

your photo shows a standard plate weight which would have a nominal 1"D hole.

you could thread the end of the 1" pipe. and sandwich the plate on it between a big welded washer (with 1" hole " and 1 " NPT "nut"

or if it's ok for the plate to spin , lock it in position with two set screw shaft collars.

[Lis2323]

maybe best show us what you wish to accomplish so that someone here can help you best.

[Freebirdwelds]

Trying to stick weld a section of ¾” black pipe to a 25lb weight. See photos for set-up. I keep blowing through the pipe without any penetration into the weight. Machine is an ARC-160 set at 160 current & Arc Force of 5. Using E6013, 1/8” rods. Photos added. Newbie, so any suggestion would be helpful.

maybe best show us what you wish to accomplish so that someone here can help you best.

This man Lis has fabricated tons of gym equipment. It may be wise to heed his advice if that is what your trying to accomplish.

If you trying to make stands, he probably can help you with that also.

[shortfuse]

On top of all this, 6013 is a low penetration rod, and for 1/8" electrodes 160 amps is way too hot...no wonder you are blowing holes. Normal amps for 1/8" rods should be in, say, the 100-120 amp range, some may say even lower. That being said, all the other comments are warning you away from making a dangerous project out of this.

[BD1]

As everyone mentioned, probably cast iron. Use a bolt and washer for the top and nut and washer for bottom. Pipe will fit over the bolt head and weld to washer.

If bottom needs to be flush, cut bolt thread, add washer and plug weld.

[MinnesotaDave]

Use a pipe flange, then drill and tap, or just drill through, for bolts.

Easy solution.

[blocks5757]

Thanks for all the good advise. Yes, the pipe appears to be cast iron Just trying to make a post stand and didn't want to use a flange, but will bolt it up as suggested.

[StandarDyne]

the pipe appears to be cast iron

I think most of us were referring to the barbell weight, not the pipe, when we said it was cast iron. Every "black iron" pipe like that (at least that I have seen) has just been mild steel as far as I know...

[Lis2323]

I kept these around for post stands..




80 pound tractor cast iron wheel wheel weights


Here’s one anchoring a pneumatic paint shaker.









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[tapwelder]

Use a pipe flange, then drill and tap, or just drill through, for bolts.

Easy solution.

That’s no fun.

[smithdoor]

I have found by per heating I could weld most iron with E6013.

Dave

Trying to stick weld a section of ¾” black pipe to a 25lb weight. See photos for set-up. I keep blowing through the pipe without any penetration into the weight. Machine is an ARC-160 set at 160 current & Arc Force of 5. Using E6013, 1/8” rods. Photos added. Newbie, so any suggestion would be helpful.

[Woznme]

Bet it cracked after you walked away

[smithdoor]

No it work ever time.
My anvil stand was done that way I post photo of the anvil and stand over 50 years old and still holding.

A lot of heat does thd trick.
Note I did this trick on my tools.
Costumers paid for correct rod and per heating.

Dave

Bet it cracked after you walked away

[Woznme]

Be nice to see that pic if you still have it

[smithdoor]

Here photo I post a few weeks ago

Dave