Spring Steel
Welding Procedures: Repairing Automotive Springs (spring steel)
The most important steps in welding spring steel is proper preparation. The fracture must be fully bevelled on each side 60. To obtain perfect alignment, the spring parts can best be clamped to an unbroken spring. Be sure to leave a gap 1/16" (1.6 mm) between the two members to allow 100% penetration of the weld. If the weld is not solid and a void is left in the center of the weld, flexing will cause a fatigue failure due to the notch.
Next weld the bevel on one side using 30 electrode, and then grind the weld flush, making sure there are no notches. Next, turn the spring over and weld the other side. Apply a weld at the outer edge which extends for one inch on either side of the bevel on each edge. This will make certain there is no notch at the weld ends.
This repair must be made with 30 only, as ordinary electrodes cannot weld spring steel successfully. 30 is the electrode which provides a deposit not subject to damage from carbon migration.
