Re: Hardfacing

In article <jnu5vi$a9g$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Steve B <steveb@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

Have not done any hardfacing, but looks like I'll be doing some soon. Any
advice on how to run it? Hot? Cold? I've seen some very convex beads
indicating running it slow and cold. Is there a similar rod you could
compare it to as to how it burns? Slow movement? Short arc? Whipping?

I also hear these are quite expensive. How much more are they than common
rods? I want wear resistance. Which number should I get?

Steve



Hardface is run a bit colder than welding rod.
The purpose to to add a layer of hard material, not to melt it into the
base metal.
Preheating is recommended for most applications.
The final surface will often have a hazing of fine cracks, but it
doesn't mean anything.

Hardface comes in many different flavors. Some are meant for high wear
and some for high impact.
High wear alloys will have a high percentage of carbides.
Either iron or tungsten carbides.

High impact alloys have hard particles in a softer matrix.

For wear resistance look for something in the mid 50's to lower 60's on
the Rockwell C scale.

The high impact alloys run in the 40's to mid 50's.

When I was building anvils I used the softer alloys for the under
layers, and the harder alloys for the top surface.

I like Rankin and Stoody products, but McKay is also good.
UTP and Bohler also have good hardface alloys.
.