Thread: 1926 Koken Presidential. SO Busted!!!

To properly weld cast, you first need to figure out what type of metal it is and that can be done by doing a spark test. The reason being that you need to know what type of rod/filler to use. Then the part needs to be heated so that the filler metal will flow properly. It isn't hard just time consuming.

Friend of mine has a tig welder and he has welded cast tattoo machine frames for me. These were sand castings that I was customizing. Welded up just fine. IIRC, though I've not done it personally when I was a welder, engine blocks, which were cast, were welded at times ? I suspect that. though the broken parts could be welded or brazed, re-chromed, it would be a heap of $, and then the end result might not be satisfactory. I mean if it didn't exactly duplicate the original look. Might be better to search for the parts ?

The article:

looks bad

Looking at the pix of the damaged chair, along with the one I posted scavenged from an ebay listing, looks as if he would need the whole chrome apparatus that the footrest and arms are bolted onto ? To my eye anyway. So if he could buy a chair for parts he might be able to get what he needs. Seems as if everything bolts together .

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That can be repaired. The breaks occurred at a high-pressure point. More area with which to weld. A lot of weld will be applied. Bevels should be made and done with heliarc, Possibly nickel. A bit of trial has to happen to see what the particular cast will like. Some like bronze and a torch!
People are heavier than they used to be as this chair was made. Also, more lazy. They put their entire weight upon the footrest as seating, and literally stand upon the footrest as fitting their wide asses into it while looking at the smartphone.
Proper way to mount is straddling the footrest, assembling the ass upon the seat, and only then, applying the size 13's to the footrest! NOT that this is what the OP did! It just had been done many times prior! Finally gave way!
I digress!

I have personally welded cast iron successfully, and I am a complete and total amateur. A skilled welder should be able to repair that with little problems. Nickel rods are certainly more expensive than standard steel working materials, but I cant imagine the labor cost involved would be all that much higher than a standard weld job. Seek out an experienced welder and just repair and replate. if it fails, THEN you can ask Leonard Nimoy to go in search of a spare president parts.