Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

Garden Fork

0 views
Skip to first unread message

George

unread,
Nov 1, 2009, 10:28:07 AM11/1/09
to
Not exactly a model one. Sorry, but a neighbour of mine has broken a
Garden fork tine, spike, whatever, off. and he is desperate to get it
repaired, as it belonged to his father. It is an end piece and has
broken on the right angle bend. The break surface looks a bit like
cast iron, but I doubt that it is, as in trying to straighten it a
bit, it is very springy and strong.

I wonder if any repair is going to be successful. What sort of
procedure would you august members attempt? I can do gas, mig, and
stick, but I am tempted to go to the nearest car boot, buy another
similar fork and do a quick grind over that corner and pretend I am a
bl**dy genius.

Any ideas please. Regards George.

John S

unread,
Nov 1, 2009, 11:59:06 AM11/1/09
to


Your a bloody genius <g>

John s.

bigegg

unread,
Nov 1, 2009, 12:01:57 PM11/1/09
to

I would go with stick welding it.

You would be lucky to get it as strong as originally (if you could
weld that well, you wouldn't need to ask :.) )

grind out a Vee all the way round, clamp it up as perfectly as you can,
weld it up, then grind smooth.

THEN:
tell him to buy another fork to actually use - cos it will only break again.


--
bigegg

Dudley Simons

unread,
Nov 2, 2009, 12:47:07 PM11/2/09
to


Eutectic 680 (680ss?)electrode - a high nickel rod for disimilar metals
- you know the blue ones that cost a fortune! Any rod for disimilar
metals would do.

arc or tig the joint, might preheat first to reduce the chill on the
weld area, let it cool naturally and it should be ok.

The joint will be a bit soft and should bend the next time he tries to
use it to lever out a 2 inch diameter tree root, but for ordinary
digging it should be ok

djandersonza

unread,
Nov 3, 2009, 3:36:01 AM11/3/09
to
Another idea might be to drill and thread the inside of both parts,
then insert a rod. If thhis is more of an heirloom and he is not
intendingto use it, I would simply rod weld it

Dudley Simons

unread,
Nov 3, 2009, 5:40:53 AM11/3/09
to


problem is that you have no idea what the composition of the fork is
(apart from it is definitely not ild steel) and if you just splat it
together with a bog standard mild steel rod it will - quite likely fail
as it cools or when you give it a good tug - just to see if it really is
attached. The weld itself will be fine but the joint will fail along
the weld boundary.

mark

unread,
Nov 3, 2009, 8:14:27 AM11/3/09
to

think they are cast steel.

anyway Ive repaired those long post-hole spades many times ..for a
friend who has a fencing business

first with mild steel ...he kept coming back ...every six months ..

so i did them with stainless steel mig wire ..and he hasn't been back
again .,..they are holding out this time ..its now over 18 months .

all the best.markj

0 new messages