F&W 8ft Steel Star project

[Windcatcher530 Dan]

I agree with Bob on welding it. If you've never weld cast you might want to find someone who does.

[TdcJD]

Ahh okay, yea I have a welder, but don't know how to weld cast. I'd have to do some looking to find someone who can. Figured brazing would be nice because then I could do it myself. But I do know having it welded would be much stronger

[Windcatcher530 Dan]

Thomas if your mill isn't going to be functional and more or less for display and you know how to braze i would do that and save yourself some money.

[TdcJD]

My plan was to have it set up in my backyard on a short tower maybe 10 or 15ft tall and have it hook up to a pump sitting in a tank underneath it as like a circulating water feature or something like that. If y'all don't think the braze will be strong enough I'll find someone to weld it. I would hate to ruin a tail if it was to break and fall off

[Wayne]

There is a company Brecko Corp. in Abilene Tx that sales a rod called Magna 770 especially made for cast iron. I have used it with good results. breckocorp@yahoo.com they will sale small amounts.

[TdcJD]

Hmm, I'll have to look into that. Would certainly be a handy welding rod to have. I did also find a welding shop in town that says they can weld cast, might be best to let someone that knows what they are doing weld it haha.
Haven't done much to the windmill this week, but I did pick up this thing so I can now melt my own babbitt now!

[Windcatcher530 Dan]

That is really cool Thomas i like that, never seen one before.

[TdcJD]

I don't know a whole lot about it. Says Unique Manufacturing Co. Model no. 55 on it. Old plumbers furnace for melting lead. No idea on how old it is.

[windybob]

Well that sure looks safe.

[windybob]

Welding cast is as much work as you want it to be. Get a couple pieces, reverse the current, set to medium, and with some nickle rod, go for it. You may be surprised.

Of course, if you really want to, then overthink it, sweat about it, go for 20 steps you don't need, and good luck. If you can stick weld steel, there are not many reasons why you can't weld cast. For windmill purposes. You are not fixing cracked blocks, or heads. Remember, a windmill is not a Mona Lisa.