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Resisting wear and tear
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Electric arc welders found in most service shops can be used to apply hardface coatings on golf course equipment. |
A welding process called “hardfacing” can solve the problem of rapid wear on ground-engaging tools, such as the tines on bunker rakes.
The process consists of putting a layer of ultra-hard steel alloy on the wear surfaces of a base part that is made of a more flexible, softer grade of steel. The harder and more wear-resistant a steel alloy is, the more brittle it tends to be. The softer base steel absorbs the shock when the tool hits a rock, preserving the hard face. Many manufacturers apply hardfacing to the ground-contact parts of their new machines.
During use, this hard surface eventually wears away. Certain soils, particularly in the western U.S., contain hard, highly abrasive grit that speeds up this wear. Impact with rocks may cause chips to develop in the factory-applied hardfacing.
Many golf course service shops will find that it’s more cost-effective and faster to repair rather than replace damaged teeth and tines. Most shops have the electric arc welding equipment needed to apply a fresh hardface layer. A little education and preparation are needed to produce a good repair.
Start with a visit to the Web sites of two of the larger welding equipment makers — www.lincolnelectric.com and www.millerwelds.com — where you’ll find several articles and technical resources.
You can’t expect good results if you just grab a welder and any old hardfacing rods and start sparking away.
Good hardfacing is produced by making sure you don’t radically change the chemical composition of the different steel alloys you’re working with. You may need to surface-grind the part to get down to bare steel. Achieving a good bond may require pre-heating the part with an oxy-acetylene torch before applying the hardfacing with an electric arc. In some cases, you will need to apply a “buttering” layer of a softer weld metal that acts much like a primer does for paint, helping the top layer stick to the base material.
If time and circumstances permit, it may be worth visiting a professional welding shop to watch an experienced welder go through the process of repairing some of your worn parts.
You’ll probably find that your hardfacing looks ugly, even when done by a professional. Don’t expect to match the cosmetic appearance you see in factory-fresh parts. That hardface is applied by robots programmed with exact metallurgical data and under carefully controlled conditions.
The alloys in hardfacing rods are tough to work with, so the finished product often looks lumpy. Surface checking and cracks are almost unavoidable.
Don’t sweat over the appearance. Once the tool is in the dirt, no one will see it. Focus on applying a hard layer that stays in place and resists the wear of being run through the dirt.
New antimicrobial lockers from Lyon Workspace Products are finished in an advanced powder coating technology from DuPont and Agion Antimicrobial that’s designed to inhibit bacteria, mold and odor buildup on locker surfaces and touch points such as handles and doors. Any moisture triggers the controlled release of silver ions, which provide antimicrobial protection for decades, the company says. The silver ions also are said to be noxious to the drug-resistant MRSA superbug. The antimicrobial compound is inorganic, less toxic than table salt and less irritating than talcum powder, the company adds. The material also has been approved for medical devices and food contact applications. For more information, contact Lyon Workspace Products, 800-323-0096 (www.lyonworkspace.com). |
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