AboutAlexandre Guimarães Botelho Expertise General questions about metallurgy. Metals, fabrication processes, physical metallurgy, chemical composition and physical properties.
As my area of expertise is corrosion, fracture and extractive metallurgy, I may not respond quickly to more in-depth questions outside those fields.
Experience Up to the moment (2008) I have five years of experience in maintenance and inspection of industrial equipment, integrity assessment, reliability and failure analysis. I also have previous experience in iron mine processing unit and pelletizing process units.
Organizations PETROBRAS-Brazilian energy enterprise
Publications 9th COTEQ - Conferência sobre tecnologia de Equipamentos, 6 SIC - Simpósio Internacional de Confiabilidade, 2nd CIM - Seminário de Confiabilidade, Inspeção e Manutenção da PETROBRAS.
Education/Credentials I have technical degree in mechanics and graduation as a Metallurgical Engineer. I am also specialized in industrial equipment, maintenance and inspection, and currently specializing in Quality Engineering and Reliability Engineering.
Question Hello...
I'm interested in knowing what type of metal railroad footers are made of; and if I can cook on them without harm from anything toxic that might be in them.
I've polished one very well, and cleaned it. Now, I'm thinking of welding several together for a grill for my BBQ pit. Is this safe ?
What would be the most reliable way to weld railroad footers together or to other metals ?
Thank You !
Ed D. Vasquez
Answer Hello Ed,
I have been done some research on railroad steel slabs, since it is not my field of expertise.
Footers are usually made out of medium carbon steel, rolled into the shape from cast steel slabs. It is usually safe to weld together with proper SMAW (shielded metal arc welding), with electrode AWS/ASME E6012.
Please, ask the welder to prepare a bevel in the footers edge before welding them, and them, after filling the "V", remove excess weld material, so that you can polish it to a smooth surface.
Be aware that, with constant heating and cooling, weld parts may crack around the weld edges, this will take several barbecues, though, and even more if you allow the base to cool togther with the ashes.
