I know a guy that needs a Highwall welded. The welder from Alaska passed on it. Need someone that can weld two plugs in place so it can be finished smooth.

Any Guild Metalsmith can do the work, the steel is a variation of simple low-carbon and more-specific alloy details can be found in Campbell's books. Porosity and carbon inclusions are sometimes a problem with these early crudely-smelted steels but a persistent welder can do OK. The earlier receivers were all color-case-hardened but the later ones were blued.
Regards, Joe

quote:

Originally posted by J.D.Steele:
Any Guild Metalsmith can do the work,

Are you sure? I don't believe that is a requirement to become a member of the "guild"

Take it to a certified TIG welder and see what he thinks. I was certified X-ray pipe, unlimited, rebar, TIG and MIG and I wouldn't weld on a rifle receiver except with TIG or Plasma.

If it's only cosmetic, think about drill and tapping and putting in a machine screw then polishing...i

Luck

I'm reluctant to get into another welding 'discussion' on this forum, but will express my experiences and then my opinion.

I personally have welded a number of rifle receivers in the past with no adverse consequences. Mainly Mausers and Winchesters with 2 1903 Springfields and a few others in the mix. Some TIG, some stick, some OA. Some repair, some minor cosmetics, some major 'octagoning' of receiver rings, some integral scope bases, some major additions to convert to PG configuration, you get the picture.

All worked out well, no rocket science involved.

Find a welder experienced in doing really small work, REALLY small. Let him use whatever technique and equipment he chooses, just tell him how important it is to end up with a perfectly smooth surface finish after the weld resurfacing. Supply him with the proper filler material for your receiver and turn him loose.

Be sure that your welder is aware of the importance of pre-heat (to around 500F or more) and post-weld heat treatment (SLOW cooldown, basically) if the welding is extensive or in critical areas.

Be prepared to have it re-done, sometimes a tiny pit or undercut won't be noticed at the first attempt. Be prepared to have it re-heat-treated if necessary, in the proper manner.

No, this is not a Guild requirement, but a Guild Metalsmith qualification IS somewhat of an assurance that the smith isn't TOTALLY incompetent (grin)!

I know some of you will disagree with this opinion and after all it's just my opinion and suggestion, certainly not written in stone. However I welded my first Mauser receiver in 1967 and AFAIK it's still shooting deer every Fall.

Like the Madam said to the Bishop, "You pays your money and you takes your choice!"
Regards, Joe

I have welded on many original winchester, sharps, and remington, rifles, with great success, The technic I use that works the best is as follows.
high temperature anneal

weld

if multiple weldings are required it may need to be annealed again.

reheat treat.

often when welding old steels without the high temperature anneal they will be nearly impossible to get a clean weld.

you can find many pictures of my work that included extensive amounts of welding on my website.... www.gunmaker.biz

Joe Seeley is a Guild smith and Engraver. I would trust whatever he says as well as JD.

Look at the Guild page and then see what everyones speciality is---does not mean that they cannot weld if they are shown as a "stockmaker" for example.

Mr. Seeley

How are you annealing them? Not questioning, just curious.

Send it over I'll take care of it. One hour labor fee.

quote:

Originally posted by Boss Hoss:
Look at the Guild page and then see what everyones speciality is---does not mean that they cannot weld if they are shown as a "stockmaker" for example.

True as far as it goes, but for instance the closest Guild member to me is a Stockmaker and claims he can weld but IMO he's mainly good at polishing his stock finish. I've personally seen 3 metalworking jobs that he's FUBARed including one for me. Welds with pits, porousity & undercutting; chamber throat reamed 1/2" too deep; and barrel band sling swivel base loosening. Then there was the time he turned my nice English blank into a FUBAR on his pantograph....

I'm not against the Guild, in fact I'm all FOR it, but always with normal business precautions. If the guy's not listed as a Metalsmith then I'd strongly suggest that you seek another opinion of his metalwork before entrusting him with anything as important as a high wall receiver.

Joe Seeley sounds to me like The Real Meal Deal since Butch vouches for him (and his experiences seem to mirror mine to a great degree, grin).
Regards, Joe

for the high temperature anneal I send them out to be done in a atmosphere controlled furnace. when I get them back they are dead white and no scale at all on them. after welding they only need a light polish before being case hardend again

Guys thanks for the comments. I have forwarded this thread to the owner and he is considering what to do next.

Mr Seely
You have a good technique for the high temp anneal as far as protecting the surface from scale.
At my place of employment we process product in vacuum furnaces with partial pressures using argon. There is no process that produces cleaner parts.

I deleted my post because as you can see I thought i had something to add but re thought it.
Anyway.....

The problems with discussions of ANY type, welding, reloading, Whiskey, Doctors, cars or truck is, basically, the concepts are generic in peoples minds...and the argument starts when people have different understandings of what the argument is and don't specify exactly what it is they are discussing...the "discussions" turn into an "I'm right, you're wrong", "I know something, you don't", or your basic "flaunt it if you got it", thing very quickly...welding in this case.

Welding is joining two or more pieces together basicaly by heat or friction, with the mixing of both the parent metals and a filler material, and can be metal or other materials, and includes Uncle John's little buzzbox, using "farmers rod" to highly specialized controlled environment plasma welding

The worst part is, I've known many "welders" that didn't know squat doodly about anything but the mechanical aspect...I turn on the welder, hold the stinger this way, touch the metal and I'm welding...they couldn't see the metal puddle, the arc, the mixing of the steels or the flux puddle much less understand what was going on or why.

It also depends on WHERE the welds are located on the receiver and what TYPE of welding and/or filler rod is used.

Generalizing in specific areas such as safety can get people hurt.

People weld on receivers and barrels all the time and most of the time nothing bad happens...but that doesn't mean the outcome of the next time won't be much different.

The old adage that "absence of danger doesn't mean that danger is absent" is a very good credo to follow.

I've been run off a few job for refusing to "weld" certain jobs and hired because I told a couple of prospective employers to get stuffed when they wanted to know if I would do a certain weld job.

You did a good thing doing there SR4759...now the follow-up will tell the tale.

Luck