RM 116 mower blade save

[TIGman 2,006]

 The mower blades on my RM 116 mower deck looked as if they were well used over the years.  Didn't figure I could find any easily so I did a little welding built-up. 

Both blades are all welded up reground,sharpened and ready to cut grass again.

 

  

[ACman 7,618]

Nice job  ! People looked at me I was crazy  when I told them I use to put them in a vice and build up my blades with a mig welder . 

[TIGman 2,006]

5 minutes ago, ACman said:

Nice job  ! People looked at me I was crazy  when I told them I use to put them in a vice and build up my blades with a mig welder . 

 

Used the welding trick my Dad showed me years ago. Clamped blade down on a piece of 1/4" copper plate ,then after welding the bottom is already flat. Used the Miller 350 Syncrowave TIG welder today and some tool steel filler rod. 

[ACman 7,618]

Never had a copper plate , but I wonder if you could flatten out a pice of copper pipe    ?

[953 nut 55,061]

3 hours ago, TIGman said:

some tool steel filler rod.

So that is the trick; did it once on some Bush Hog blades using 6011 arc welding rods, didn't hold up too well.

[TIGman 2,006]

1 hour ago, 953 nut said:

So that is the trick; did it once on some Bush Hog blades using 6011 arc welding rods, didn't hold up too well.

 

I have done Bush Hog blades for the Shop Owner many times.  H-13 tool steel filler rod.

[moe1965 737]

Do you have to re harden the blade again 

[TIGman 2,006]

11 minutes ago, moe1965 said:

Do you have to re harden the blade again 

 

The filler rod I use moe is a hard type tool steel so no problem on re-hardening the blade cutting edge.

[DennisThornton 4,769]

I'm not a pro welder but I'm certainly not a newbie either.  I figured what the heck?  Why can't I rebuild these?  Around here the lift portion get sandblasted off before the cutting edge disappears so I arc welded them up and they looked pretty good!

 

Didn't hold up well at all!  Decided that was the last time...

 

Well. I'm all eyes and ears now, but I'm wondering what subtle differences there are between the lift portion and the cutting edges.  

 

I've known of the copper plate trick for decades.  Pretty popular in the autobody repair for thin sheetmetal too.  And yes, even a flatten copper pipe will help.  Point is to have some backup that won't melt or stick but some mass comes in handy too.