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Hello from Arthur On.

MrBlair

MrBlair

Member
Hello everyone, I was pointed here from reddit as I'd like to continue to learn anything related to machining and better my skillset. I'm hoping to find a mentor near the area that would be willing to help me learn more of the trade after work or weekends. Almost completely self taught so I view myself has having a lot of missing gaps of knowledge and I would like to simply be better overall.

2 years in, currently operating/setup/program a Haas VF-6 and a Machitech Platinum cut Plasma table. Some experience on manual lathe, radial arm drill, brake press, plate roller. And in downtime at home I fiddle with Laser engravers for woodworking projects.
 
Welcome! I have a Haas TM-1p mill. I’m Located in Calgary. Always up for chats about cnc anything. What kind of things do you make on the mill and plasma?
 
Janger said:
Welcome! I have a Haas TM-1p mill. I’m Located in Calgary. Always up for chats about cnc anything. What kind of things do you make on the mill and plasma?
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I do structural work for snow plow bodies, it was a great learning curve to start, but tolerances are beyond generous and most tool paths are hole making. I get to make the odd jig for coworkers but it's very infrequent.
 

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Welcome from South of Chatham Ontario.

Ever hardface blades? It's 42M on my project list. Farm plow blades are expensive and my dirt is full of rocks. Factory hard facing just breaks. I need to figure out how to do my own that won't break. Can't weld worth crap. So it's a major adventure.

See you at the meetup!
 
Susquatch said:
Welcome from South of Chatham Ontario.

Ever hardface blades? It's 42M on my project list. Farm plow blades are expensive and my dirt is full of rocks. Factory hard facing just breaks. I need to figure out how to do my own that won't break. Can't weld worth crap. So it's a major adventure.

See you at the meetup!
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No unfortunately, all our blades are bolt on that we get to my understanding. We do work with hardox 450 to make the plows themselves, and sometimes the body to depending on the style.
 
660 ecoface. Use 5/32
Welds beautifully
Spent more time welding those rods than I care to think about.
When I wound down my shop I gave away more than 50#
 

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MrBlair said:
all our blades are bolt on that we get to my understanding.
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My plow points are bolt-on too. They come hard faced or plain. Plain is expensive. Hardfaced is outrageous.

Plain wears out in one use.
Hardfaced breaks off in one use. IMHO, it is welded too deep and hardens the underlying blade so much that they become brittle and the whole point breaks off instead of wearing.

wmetfab said:
660 ecoface. Use 5/32
Welds beautifully
Spent more time welding those rods than I care to think about.
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First and foremost, know that I can't weld worth crap. I do weld but it's embarrassing. I have a Lincoln tombstone Stick and I have a MIG (with gas or flux cored).

So the task is to produce plow points that last longer than normal steel but don't break like the factory hard faced points do.

Factory hardfacing is not beads. It is a big puddle on the point which breaks the whole point off at the puddle border. The failure surface is a clean brittle fracture.

I'd like to try adding a Hardfaced edge as well as a grid or pattern.
 
This will weld just fine for you. They strike easy and dont stick. The 1/8 rod runs good around 140 amps the 5/32 around 165-170 if your machine can sustain that. If u want nice straight stringers run the rod along a straight edge. Slag is self peeling.
If the steel is thick pre heat it to around 400
 
Susquatch said:
Welcome from South of Chatham Ontario.

Ever hardface blades? It's 42M on my project list. Farm plow blades are expensive and my dirt is full of rocks. Factory hard facing just breaks. I need to figure out how to do my own that won't break. Can't weld worth crap. So it's a major adventure.

See you at the meetup!
Click to expand...

There’s stuff out there called CCO, hardface fused to a steel backer so it’s weldable. Used on mining shovel buckets, it lasts quite a while.

Just need to find some small pieces and weld them on.


To the original poster, from a former Ontarian, welcome aboard!
 
Welcome Mr Blair ?
Lots of experience and viewpoints from machinists, metal fabricators and process specialists.
I started as a machinist apprentice, became a machinery designer and a project manager.

Did you work for Chives Snow Plows ?
My wife’s family is from the Teviotdale area and still has friends out there.
 
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