How to guide to repairing stainless steel products

How easy is it to repair stainless steel products with Steelaloy?

Over the last few months we have published a guide to repair aluminum products with Alumaloy as well as a guide to repair cast iron products with Castaloy.  Bradshaw Consulting, Inc. also has a product to repair stainless steel and it makes sense to release a guide to repairing stainless steel with Steelaloy  as well.  It requires a very similar process to both of the other metals and is really quite easy to do.   When performing this repair, keep in mind that cleaning steel can be a little more difficult.  However, you can do it with just a few tools and it can be done with very little practice or training.  Once you have done it a few times, you will be surprised at how easy it is to repair items that you once thought were hopeless.

Tools you may need:

• Stainless steel Repair Rod(s) “Steelaloy rod(s)“
• Wire brush for cleaning steel
• Wheel for cleaning steel
• Sand paper for cleaning steel
• pliers to hold Steelaloy rod
• Propane torch to heat steel
• Gloves to protect your hands
• Safety glasses or face shield to protect your eyes and face
• Stable work surface or vice to support the cast iron product needing repair
• Rags for cleaning
• Draft free work area

How to repair stainless steel products with Steelaloy:

1. Be sure to use appropriate safety gear to protect eyes and hands.
2. First identify the break. Then situate the steel product in a stable position on a flat surface or with a vice. This will keep it from moving while you work and keep you safe.  This area should be open but draft free.
3. Once the steel in need of repair is secure, clean the break of debris. Unlike Aluminum but similar to cast iron this almost always requires a vigorous brushing with a metal brush or sand paper.  DO NOT FORGET, flux is an acid and should be treated with respect.    I have written an article on the proper way to clean and prep steel for repair.  DO NOT USE DEGREASERS OR CLEANERS THAT MAY BE FLAMABLE!
4. Now that the steel break is clean and ready, you will use your torch to heat it.  Do not heat the Steelaloy rod.  You want the heat of the broken steel to melt the Steelaloy.  Keep the heat in motion over the area you are working with. Test the surface for temperature by pulling the torch away and touching with the Steelaloy rod to it. When the Steelaloy melts and starts to flow freely you are at the optimal working temperature. You will need to reheat that location from time to time to keep the Steelaloy flowing. Work the Steelaloy into the broken area, letting it fill in the hole or crack, switching from heat to Steelaloy.
5. Once the break is covered thoroughly, allow to air cool. After the steel product is cool you may need to sand or grind it to smooth the surface or reshape it. This step all depends on the use or needs of the repaired steel product.

It is just that simple. Steelaloy was designed so anyone can use it to make repairs on everyday products. You don’t have to have special skills or be a welder to use it. Common sense, patience, Steelaloy, and a few tools will see you repairing all sorts of steel products. Never again will you have to throw something out because now, you do have the skills to restore them.