Repairing metal back plates

I hate throwing anything away if it can be repaired, restored or used in some other fashion. I have read alot of posts advocating the use of JBWeld and I think it is a very fine expedient.

However for me, it takes too long (setting time) and it shows up as a repair or stands out unless the repair is out of sight.

I use "Lumiweld" but a word of warning - its melting point is close to that of aluminium and even closer to that of the backplate. The repair though is stronger than the original metal and with the lugs on a backplate - they will break somewhere else and not at the join.

It is not a repair material for the feint hearted and requires practise. A key element is that when the weld material has melted the part to which it is the be joined must be scratched with a sharp stainless steel point to break the oxidisation for the bond to form. You don't get much time to do this - take too long and the part will melt!



In this instance all the lugs were bent so I straighten them gently in a vice.



and keep checking that I have got the plate flat



Then I set it as shown below - the mount I used is steel with a 7/64 drill rod. The weld does not stick to steel.



Heat up the mount.



Apply the Lumiweld and do the "scratching" - haven't got any pictures of this because I only have two hands.



Followed by grinding and filing (no need to drill the hole)



A good clean and it is ready for replating and polishing.