[burnttoast]

Good morning all, my neighbor broke her stainless steel garden trowel, and I figured I would do her a favor by repairing it. I'm a hobbyist welder, so I'm not completely knowledgeable on all aspect of welding. as per the title, anything I need to know before undertaking this deed? I have a ac welder. Thanks

[Oscar]

'morning. What process do you plan on using?

[burnttoast]

'morning. What process do you plan on using?

I'm planning on using my 225 Lincoln ac welder.

[Poland308]

SS garden trowel is likely a odd grade of SS. Since your stick welding it get a SS ac rod or just some 6011 and warn her the weld will rust, but probably hold as long as the original tool lasted.

[tweake]

i tig welded a stainless garden trowel some time back.
small trowels are pretty thin metal (which is why they break).
i think you will have a real tough time arc welding it.
with normal steel i've used 6013 rod downhill with fast travel speed.
no idea with stainless rods.

[Coldman]

Is the break on the blade or handle stem?
Why not post up a pic so we can have a look.

[burnttoast]

Is the break on the blade or handle stem?
Why not post up a pic so we can have a look.

it broke where the handle attaches to the blade. looks like there were two small rivets securing it. I already grounded the broken rivets down, and plan on running beads down both sides where the stem of the handle meets the blade. will download a pic. later. Thanks

[burnttoast]

IMG_0807.JPG (33.06 KiB) Viewed 2592 times

Is the break on the blade or handle stem?
Why not post up a pic so we can have a look.

Here's a pic. Sorry about the delay.

[Coldman]

So a Lincoln 225 AC, I presume that's a stick welder. That should work with some 308 3/32" rod. Check the packet and pick amps somewhere in mid range. You will need to do about 3/8" at a time letting it cool in between so you don't blow through. If you have some scrap you can use to dial in or practice first that would help.

[tweake]

Is the break on the blade or handle stem?
Why not post up a pic so we can have a look.

it broke where the handle attaches to the blade. looks like there were two small rivets securing it. I already grounded the broken rivets down, and plan on running beads down both sides where the stem of the handle meets the blade. will download a pic. later. Thanks

the metal is generally really thin. i would recommend putting a bit of aluminium on the back. otherwise you will burn through really fast.

[Poland308]

So a Lincoln 225 AC, I presume that's a stick welder. That should work with some 308 3/32" rod. Check the packet and pick amps somewhere in mid range. You will need to do about 3/8" at a time letting it cool in between so you don't blow through. If you have some scrap you can use to dial in or practice first that would help.

308 is a good choice when it’s unknown SS. There are others that might be better but 308 is a standard and easy to get.

[burnttoast]

Thanks for the suggestions. waiting for the rods to arrive.