MIG weld a bolt handle?

[Digger]

I did a search, couldn't find much. Seems like most bolt handles are TIG welded when they are cut or customized. I don't have a TIG ($$$), but I do have a MIG. If you were to properly use heat sinks, both pastes and plugs, could you use a MIG? If you welded a tack, let it cool, weld, cool, repeat, would that work? It would be a long process, but I like doing things myself and this looks like a fun project. Thoughts?

 

[rcmodel]

Yes, if you can MIG weld good, it will work good.
I have welded a bunch of them with an acetylene torch before MIG or TIG was widely available outside commercial & industrial welding shops.

Be sure and use the correct grade of wire if you want to re-blue the bolt later.
IE: (Don't use stainless type wire to weld a carbon steel bolt)

rc

 

[Digger]

Awesome! I thought it would work if I was patient enough. Thanks

 

[Jim K]

With that small wire, you will be doing a lot of welding over welding, not a real good practice, but the handle should hold OK and look good enough if you can build up the surface areas where you want to grind/file them down.

Jim

 

[gamestalker]

Larry Poterfield has a pretty good video on Midways web site that might help you?

 

[Ole Humpback]

Three questions:

First off, what kind of MIG welder do you have? Your mileage will vary depending on the quality of the welder you are using.

Second, what kind & size of wire are you using? Flux cored wire will be a bit bigger, require a bit more heat, and cause significant splatter compared to solid wire that is shielded by an inert gas. Also, the wire needs to be sized for the weld. Too big a wire and you won't get good penetration. Too small a wire, you'll have the same problem.

Third, what kind of gas are you using (this is directly related to the solid wire)? Some wire, you can get away with CO2 or 90%Ar/10%CO2. Some wires will need 100% Ar.

If you are competent at TIG welding, I'd highly suggest that you rent a TIG welder for the project. MIG, IMO, leaves a bit to be desired in the area of finite control. Sure, MIG can produce the same results as TIG, but the skill level needed for that level of control is far higher than what a average person with a TIG welder is capable of.

 

[dirtyjim]

just send it to dan at accu-tig along with $40.
i've welded bolt handles with mig, stick & tig. when i don't have access to a tig & need a bolt welded i usually just tack it in the position i want it then send it out to be tig'ed
about the only thing i still use a mig for on gunwork is when i need to build up a lot of metal.

 

[velocette]

Digger;
I ran welding shops for projects both big and small for 30 years.
The suggestions you got to have your bolt TIG welded (Tungsten Inert Gas)
are correct and proper. TIG is a slow accurate and VERY controllable process. MIG (Metallic Inert Gas) is a high speed production process, far less controllable or accurate.
If you cannot find a TIG welder to do the work, look for someone to gas weld it with an acetylene torch. That is (in good hands) almost as controllable as TIG.
You read the word CONTROLLABLE. That is what TIG or gas welding will offer you. If it was MY bolt to be welded, there is NO doubt that it would be TIG welded.

Roger

 

[1SOW]

TIG, "precise", controllable, less colateral heat damage.

My son would do it if you come to TX.

 

[Lee Roder]

As noted above, MIG welding is a high speed way of laying down a lot of metal very cheaply when joining metal. But it's not very precise meaning that you'd have some work cleaning and shaping to do both during and after welding.

That said, I see nothing wrong with taking a little flux core welder to your bolt handle. It's not a critical weld, no lives would be lost if it failed. But, as an AWS Certified Welder (GMAW under D1.1), I wouldn't do it.

For such a small part, TIG is more appropriate and would be much prettier.

 

[kenhwind]

As a metal fabricator and a mediocre welder I'd arc weld ir before I'd Mig it. But the TIG process is by far the best option followed by gas welding.

 

[DANS40XC]

To MIG a Mauser bolt handle-possible.
Stitching as in tac,tac,tac w/ MIG will induce an inclusion w/ each stitch.
Oxy- Acetylene was the only option in the early 50's prior to Heli-Arc.
Heli-Arc (slang term of early TIG process using Helium gas)

Remove any copper plating from filler rod if bolt/handle are to be blued.