[Coley]

From time to time I get a request for welding up a broken hard to find potmetal grille or trim part from a  chrome plater,  that I have done business with for over 45 years. 
This week he had a Chrysler grille bar that had been broken and the owner can't seem to find a good one.  He also had a dash trim piece that the owner had tried to drill a light switch hole a little larger, resulting in the trim breaking in two at the hole.
The bar was very thin and hard to position in place to weld on.
The dash trim broke right where the "HEADLIGHT" lettering was of course.
The first to repair was the dash part.  It welded up OK and I was able to save the lettering, somewhat.
The grille bar was harder, but came out to where the plater can heavy copper and then fill any imperfections with hard lead.  Same with the dash trim.

[themoose]

Good tip...Thanks for posting...

[EDNY]

Coley are you actually welding or soldering the parts?  The reason I ask is because I have used ALUMALOY to joint aluminum parts.

[madmike3434]

EDNY...........that's exactly what I was trying to figure out if he TIG.d it or alumaloy'ed it. 
I would have to assume the Alumaloy due to the lower heat of the propane.

When using it on aluminum heavier 1/4" ++ I found I had to use an oxy acy torch to get things hot enough for the alumaloy to melt and stick to the aluminum.

I was using this to fill out gas holes in aluminum LARSON valve covers created when put into a 500 degree powder coating oven.  Little craters like volcanos formed in various spots..

mike     

[Coley]

I use my ZA (pot-metal) alloy to make small welding rods.  I use an oxy-acetylene torch with a OOO tip.
I am not welding aluminum.  These parts are all die-cast.
I don't weld aluminum, as I have a friend that does aluminum for me.
I also don't use Mugiweld or other "special rod".
My welding rod is just my regular ZA alloy made into small rods. It is 99.9% Zinc to which I add pop cans to bring up the strength and a small amount of copper wire.
It comes out to about the same alloy as Zamack 2, but less cost.

[EDNY]

Coley  I just hope you are passing on your knowledge on to someone.  Like I said before ...wish I lived closer to you.

[Coley]

Not many people around here want to learn any of the old skills. Allen Polhill is 85 and still makes new shafts and parts for older farm implements.  He also makes parts for the old high wheel bikes.  He also make them from scratch.  Wheels frames etc.
He repaired a high wheel bike for Mike the picker, from Iowa.  I made the rubber pedals for it.
I am 75 and do a lot of repairing any old parts that were made in white metal.
I just made a new decklid nameplate for a customer that likes the old Hudsons.  It was a "TWIN-H-POWER".
He had a good original, but the T was missing.  He had a pitted original with a good T, so I made a no-bake mold of it and cast a T.  I then welded it to the original and made a rubber spin casting mold of it.  They are selling fairly well.
I have been making the headlight stands for 1936 Chevy cars, 37 Chevy trucks, 38 Chevy trucks and the 39-40 Chevy trucks along with the 37-40 GMC trucks.  They have been selling well on eBay.

Here are some pics of the Hudson part.  Welding something that small @ 700 degrees is touchy.

[EDNY]

Awesome skills

[TFoch]

Nice work Coley

[ghost28]

WOW.  Nice work

[Rattiac]

Wish I had some of those skills  . I've had a few times when I've had something pot metal break that was not replaceable with no way to fix it (other than jb weld). Maybe you could answer this question.
 I have a small gun that the slide has a crack in it and of course no replacements.
Can that be welded ?
Did the magnet test and didn't stick.

I've searched and most info is throw it away.
One guy "Migged" a few tack welds to a 9mm slide and shockingly it has held up through 100+ rounds.    yeah scary.

 My welding arsenal is a Lincoln arc, small mig tuned really good, and a torch.

[Coley]

Maybe a new cast part would to the job better than repairing the old one.  Got a picture of the part, with something to show the size?

[Rattiac]

After looking at it there would be some machining required and may not be worth it.
If there was one metal "glue" that you would recommend (ie;;;;; jb weld, steel tube, ect)
What would it be ?

This is my "last chance" weapon and may/not get used. It's a little "belly buster" Hawes .25 semi auto.

I think the crack was caused from people pulling too hard on the slide. It has received a extensive cleaning and slides much better than when it was given to me.

[EDNY]

Might be best to locate a good TIG welder to ID the metal and weld?  Probably magnesium or aluminum?

[sixball]

If any part of the slide in front of the crack stops the slide while cycling just hang it on the wall. A face full of slide would not be fun.