I am looking to do a bit of repair to my pitted pot metal trim pieces. Has anyone used silver epoxy to successfully fill the pits prior to triple plating?
Thanks,
Jim
Thanks,
Jim
-
-
Re: Pot Metal Repair
As a welder, I've been asked a hundred times about this, and the 'silver epoxy' is the one best way to approach this problem. The original pot metal is generally slightly less than the name contends. The 'metal' is so inferior that even the heat from a open flame soldering can cause it to disintegrate. There really is no good way to try to repair pot metal products.Each day is a gift, respect it, and enjoy it as if it were the last! -
Re: Pot Metal Repair
Thanks Jim. Will the copper take to the epoxy? Is there a particular brand of silver epoxy you would recommend?
JimComment
-
Re: Pot Metal Repair
I believe it will, but again, preparation is eveything. Clean, clean, clean, rougthen surface lightly, a go for it. In any kind of welding, be it metal, iron, aluminum. The cleaner the surface and the purer the subsurface, the better the weldment. I sometimes repair the local Firecompanies Aluminum diamont plate steps on the fire engine trucks. A simple wire brushing and a wipe of the arear with lacquer thinner and wait a few minute and your ready to tig weld it.
But if someone need the aluminum side cover for a Harley Davidson motorcycle engine, then there's a problem with the material being socked in oil, so the piece need to be flushed with Acetone, backed, cleaned and heated to the point that there is no more oil intrusion in the area to be welded and then use 6016-T6 welding rod to give it a solid repair.
But pot metal has so much dirt, sub acceptable materian and a huge porosity problem it can't be welded or soldered. When products are made from this ah, material, it's pored into a mold and what comes out is what you get. Good, bad or something else. It's only good for lightly used products. Good luck with your project.
Each day is a gift, respect it, and enjoy it as if it were the last!Comment
-
Re: Pot Metal Repair
I believe it will, but again, preparation is eveything. Clean, clean, clean, rougthen surface lightly, a go for it. In any kind of welding, be it metal, iron, aluminum. The cleaner the surface and the purer the subsurface, the better the weldment. I sometimes repair the local Firecompanies Aluminum diamont plate steps on the fire engine trucks. A simple wire brushing and a wipe of the arear with lacquer thinner and wait a few minute and your ready to tig weld it.
But if someone need the aluminum side cover for a Harley Davidson motorcycle engine, then there's a problem with the material being socked in oil, so the piece need to be flushed with Acetone, backed, cleaned and heated to the point that there is no more oil intrusion in the area to be welded and then use 6016-T6 welding rod to give it a solid repair.
But pot metal has so much dirt, sub acceptable materian and a huge porosity problem it can't be welded or soldered. When products are made from this ah, material, it's pored into a mold and what comes out is what you get. Good, bad or something else. It's only good for lightly used products. Good luck with your project.
Jim-----
Have you ever tried the Cecil Muggy Company's low temp "welding" rod for pot metal repair? I've used it and it worked pretty well.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
Comment