Welding 1045 steel

awesome

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Hi,
I'm really just starting to learn how to weld and I'd like to know if I'm supposed to be able to weld something like this:

It says it's 1045 steel. I have a low budget canadian tire flux core welder. Is that gonna work? I'm looking to weld it on a sproket to make a gearbox to go from 540 to 3600rpm.

The black color makes me think it's high carbon steel but searching for 1045 steel seems to indicate it might be easy to weld. I'd appreciate any info about this.
Thanks.
 

Dustyx2

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Easily welded. That's what it made for. I'd question if chain is rated for that application.
 

awesome

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Thanks. Good to know.
It's to power a 10kw generator hear. I have a #50 chain. The guy that was using the genny before me was using a #40 chain.
 

BCfromVA

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The 1045 designation means it is a medium carbon steel. The 10 says it is carbon and the 45 designates the carbon content. In this case .45% carbon. It is weldable, but not as easily weldable as a more low carbon steel such as 1018. Preheat it to about 300 degrees F. Then bury it in sand after so that it cools slowly.
 
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Dustyx2

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BX22, M7060, Landpride RC-2512, Woodmax SB84
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Thanks. Good to know.
It's to power a 10kw generator hear. I have a #50 chain. The guy that was using the genny before me was using a #40 chain.
I would caution that chain has a maximum feet per minute recommendation. You might want to check that out.
 

Dustyx2

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BX22, M7060, Landpride RC-2512, Woodmax SB84
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The 1045 designation means it is a medium carbon steel. The 10 says it is carbon and the 45 designates the carbon content. In this case .45% carbon. It is weldable, but not as easily weldable as a more low carbon steel such as 1018. Preheat it to about 300 degrees F. Then bury it in sand after so that it cools slowly.
You are correct that 1045 should be preheated. I'll bet very few would bother. Still a good idea to do you recommended procedure.
 

RCW

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Awesome - -

3,600 rpm just seems really fast for a chain drive to me.

My snowblower reduces 2,500 to 540, and has been relatively fool-proof. I think that's 40 chain.

Obviously it worked before. I would just pay attention to it at first. At that speed, won't take long to tear stuff apart. Check tension, alignment, etc. regularly.
 

TheOldHokie

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Awesome - -

3,600 rpm just seems really fast for a chain drive to me.

My snowblower reduces 2,500 to 540, and has been relatively fool-proof. I think that's 40 chain.

Obviously it worked before. I would just pay attention to it at first. At that speed, won't take long to tear stuff apart. Check tension, alignment, etc. regularly.
The design factor would be chain speed in feet/minute. Chain drives are typically under 1000 FPM.

That is a 1:6 step-up so a 12" /2" sprocket combo would be about the smallest single stage drive and at 540 RPM is about 1700 FPM. Thats really pushing the envelope. Better to go in two 1:3 stages. which would be a lot more compact and get it down to about 850 FPM. Personally I prefer synchronous belts for these types of applications.

Dan