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Best process for welding d2 tooling steel.
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 3:47 pm
by Bill w
Anyone have any ideas on the best way to weld a broken die?
Re: Best process for welding d2 tooling steel.
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 3:53 pm
by Bill w
Material is d2 die is split in half 13" wide 7" thick.
Re: Best process for welding d2 tooling steel.
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 8:56 pm
by Coldman
I looked up D2 steel and if i'm right it's 1.55% carbon, 12% chrome, 0.8%moly and 0.9% vanadium which gives a carbon equivalent of 4.29% - worst possible scenario for welding.
You would need a prep like a double U (weld from both sides)
preheat would need to be 300*C (and interpass as well) using lo hydrogen rods
Distortion would be the result. The D2 temper would require re-treatment. No guarantee that it wouldn't crack again.
My conclusion is it's a throw away. Machine up a new one.
Re: Best process for welding d2 tooling steel.
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 10:10 pm
by Bill w
My conclusion is it's a throw away. Machine up a new one.[/quote]
That's not an option. So I guess I'm going to swing for the fences and hope it holds.
Re: Best process for welding d2 tooling steel.
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 12:13 am
by Coldman
I'd be interested in how you go and end up so please keep us posted and pics would be great too.
Re: Best process for welding d2 tooling steel.
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 10:50 am
by Bill w
I have been researching this for about a day now. And found a lot of info on this. But haven't found a lot of people willing to try. So I will take pics and do a full right up and fingers crossed that it works.
Re: Best process for welding d2 tooling steel.
Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 10:44 am
by GFab70
I am curious to see the fixture you build to help with distortion. That's gonna be a lot of passes. I wish I had some good advice on D2, but I have no experience with it. Please keep us informed of your progress.
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Re: Best process for welding d2 tooling steel.
Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 5:56 pm
by Coldman
I've been doing a bit more reading up too.
For d2 steels preheat and interpass temp is 900*F.
Use E11018 rods.
No weaving, stringers only and peen each run.
The part must annealed prior to welding and heat treated after to restore temper.
The repair by all accounts is considered temporary only which means it will crack again.
Re: Best process for welding d2 tooling steel.
Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 7:29 pm
by Bill w
I'm sad to say guys I won't be doing this job. The machine shop this happened at has decided to try and find a new die. I was really pretty pumped about doing the work. But after explaning the weld procces to the owner and told him I could not be for sure it would even work. They decided against it.
Re: Best process for welding d2 tooling steel.
Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 8:03 pm
by Coldman
I think the right decision was made. Grief would have been the result otherwise I feel.
Re: Best process for welding d2 tooling steel.
Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 8:29 pm
by Bill w
Coldman wrote:I think the right decision was made. Grief would have been the result otherwise I feel.
I agree. But sometimes it's good to try things out of your comfort zone. And I haven't really welded anything like that in about 5 years.
Re: Best process for welding d2 tooling steel.
Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2016 5:23 pm
by LtBadd
Bill w wrote:Coldman wrote:I think the right decision was made. Grief would have been the result otherwise I feel.
I agree. But sometimes it's good to try things out of your comfort zone. And I haven't really welded anything like that in about 5 years.
Well if they're going to scrap it, why not give it a try? For this or other future tool steel work give
Weld Mold a call, they can provide solutions