Cold Welding ???

[Ian Robinson]

Came across this http://www.jbweld.net/faq.php , wondering if anyone here has used this product in ATM DIYS metal working jobs ?

Considering it for making a second pier (for the old CG5) on the cheap, the cost of paying a machine shop to do the cutting ,grinding and welding (very time consuming) is a killer.

Do you think JB Weld would be suitable for welding threadbar leveling bolts to the top plate of my Atlux pier ?

[sheeny (Al)]

Without drilling and tapping holes to screw the threaded bar into, no. The bolts will provide an excellent lever to break the chemical "weld". I wouldn't trust my scope to it anyway...

Al.

[leon]

Ian In short No, a Arc, and/or Mig weld will do a much better job.

If one welds to pieces of metal together, and tries to break them apart, as for a test, the metal will break first rather than the welded joint.

That stuff is only glue, and wont stand any decent stress.

Leon

[Ian Robinson]

Originally Posted by sheeny

Without drilling and tapping holes to screw the threaded bar into, no. The bolts will provide an excellent lever to break the chemical "weld". I wouldn't trust my scope to it anyway...

Al.

There's the rub , when the guy made my adapter plate he drilled the 22mm ID holes and the chap who made my pier did the same (I gave him the adapter plate line up the M20 threadbars which were bolted through the top plate of the pier) , I later discovered when I came to fit my Atlux to the adapter plate that the holes were drilled on 160mm circle and not the 180mm circle I specified , so I've had to do some mods.

I have decided not to redrill the top and adapter plates , but to use eccentric spacers in the adapter plate and to use 1/2" threadbar leveling bolts that will be welded into the 22mm ID holes in the top plate - I'd rather not cart the pier to someone who can do the hot welding .

Discovered this stuff (JB Weld which I am told is available here (SuperCheap Auto, Repco, AutoOne) , apparently there are other products that may be suitable too ie Liquid Weld and Quick Steel .

The threadbars can still be fastened using bolts and washers .

J-B Weld looks pretty good - tensile strength of 3,960 psi.

I have a spare (old) CG5 tripod head that I'd be interested in welding to a leveling plate (it's aluminium I think, and would welded to a aluminium leveliing plate - expensive ! .

[DavidU (Dave)]

You can't weld aluminium to steel. Also tensile strength is very different to radial torque strength. Once you do up the nuts you increase tensile force while applying torque (and it will tare).
A stud once tightened with a nut is forever held to that tensile force (JB will sheer sooner or later)

[BC]

Hi,

JB Weld is fantastic stuff..... for certain applications, but I'd be a bit nervous to hang my scope off it. It's main beauty over other similar epoxy resins is that it withstands engine temperatures. I have used it to 'glue up' a cracked block in my old Fiat tractor where oil was pumping out pretty badly. It doesn't leak now. I've also used it to glue up a cracked part on a cooling system. It's fantastic stuff to have in the shed, but it won't do everything.

Bruce

[Ian Robinson]

Righto .... scrub that idea .... I'll get the local muffler guy to the welding for me , it'll be cheaper than hiring an arc welder and all the gear for a day and flying blind , probably stuffing the job up as I've not done any welding before.