Letter 3781 Pot metal repair  - My dad and I own a small chrome plating company that specializes in auto parts restoration. I am looking for products or methods to repair pot metal parts. Any information that anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Brian K [last name deleted for privacy due to age of posting] - Olathe, Kansas - The slang phrase "pot metal" today probably means zinc or aluminum die castings, right? If by 'repair' you mean electroplate, you probably need to cyanide copper plate, then acid copper plate, then buff before nickel-chrome plating. If you mean to repair a broken die casting, you could try one of those 'liquid metal' glues or epoxies like J-B Weld [link is to product info at Amazon]. I don't think you can solder an aluminum die casting. Regards, Ted Mooney, P.E.  finishing.com Brick, New Jersey   . If it is a good grade of casting as opposed to one with lots of impurities, both aluminum and steel can be TIG welded fairly easily. The more porous carbon castings can be brazed with brass type filler metal. When TIG is the choice, the welded area has to be VERY clean. Engine parts are sometimes saturated with oil which will mess up the weld. They require a through degreasing before welding. Cast iron can also be welded or brazed. If your not sure about the quality of the casting, have the welder "fire up" on a non critical portion first. That way, if it's not going to work...you still have the clean joint to try something else on. Mr. K. Holcomb - Tulsa, Ok

"Pot Metal" is easily repaired with Welco 52. A square wave TIG power source AC current with the balance set near the lowest setting will work good. You need to remove all grease, oils etc. and wire brush with stainless steel. Clean is the key. Use support on the back side of thin sections. Heat control can be tricky. You really need to be comfortable with a TIG torch in your hand before you try this. Use Argon for shielding gas. Any local welding supplier can get you Welco 52.

Bradford Maas
- Northfield, Minnesota

We use an epoxy that is used in repairing aluminum evaporator coils, in refrigeration work. Then we clean the part really good then we spray it with Krylon brass metallic paint (allow to dry-one hour) then copper plate with acid copper. Then simply finish the part. Works great too.

Philip Camp
- Phenix City, AL

Go to MuggyWeld.com and check out their Super Alloy 1 videos. I have tried J.B. weld with poor results. I have used Muggy welds Super Alloy 1 and it is easy to repair cracks, pits and missing pieces.

Eric J. Bremer
- Tomball, Texas, USA

I have a Porter Compressor C2002 air compressor, the valve broke off. Is there anyway I can fix this? I believe it is "pot Metal". I really don't want to purchase a new one!

John Marshall
buyer - Madras, OR, USA

Check Out MuggyWeld.com, click on the link for Pot Metal - I think you will be interested in the information and video clips... They talk about car restore/parts needs.

Karen Price
- Charlotte,NC

In response to several posts about "MUGGY WELD". I also have heard that it works well on pot metal and have read all the customer's letters of amazement. However!....I ordered some of the super alloy 1. These folks are sooooo anal and seem to HATE customers. It has been going on two weeks now and NO MUGGY WELD. I do have an ongoing war over their stellar disregard for the customer, shipping, and now I even suspect their claims of what there product will do. All the customer letters must be made up as several have stated they ordered one day and received the product the next. I was told they "usually ship 72 hrs after payment received" even though the site says 48 hrs. I don't think anyone's in charge at their shop!!! Buyer beware!

Paul Bowsher
- St Clair Shores, MI

Hi, Paul. We generally don't print slams. First, that company won't know about your posting and will have no opportunity to offer their side, so it's not fair. Second, if they did, we couldn't possibly print, for all the world to see, their attack against an individual. Third, the internet is too anonymous; while I believe that you have no affiliation with their competitors, we can't possibly check the authenticity and financial interests of the hundreds of people who submit postings every day. If you feel the problem is serious, please report it to a consumer protection agency. Thanks and good luck with it.!

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E. 
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey

I just ordered some Muggy rod and received it in less than a week. I don't know why you are having trouble getting product. Maybe just a glitch and hopefully they have it straightened out. I have used this rod before in some pot metal pit a breakage repairs. It works pretty good sometimes. But as usual , not on all pot metal repairs.
There is no standard pot metal repair system. Every piece is a challenge. You never know what you will run into.
I have run into parts that will take the cyanide copper with no problem. Then take what seems to be an identical part off the same car and it will not take the copper. While going through my cleaners and acid washes it will be a different color and even have spots that are fizzing and erupting. Even though both of the parts are on the same rack going through the same process at the same time they act differently.
I know some people will say that I have missed something in cleaning or rinsing or whatever. But after 40 years of doing this stuff , I think I know basic proprietary cleaning.

Frank DeGuire Triangle Plating Co. St. Louis, Missouri, USA

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