I suppose this can be done but as everyone else has said what does a new one cost and what are the risks? If your out bush hoggin in the middle of b.f.e someplace and one flies apart then who cares but is the time/effort -vs- longevity of the repair worth it compared to just replacing it with a new one in the first place. I'll admit, I've done it. Old teacher I had in welding college brought one in, said here, grab a 7018 and weld it up. So I did. As far as I know he's still using it and that has been some three years ago. Don't know if I'd want to do it where there were a bunch of buildings or people around though.
graydog:
The welds gow589 so proudly displays are cratered at start and finish, and have unfilled notches in these areas. He doesn't show the root penetration, or preparation, or sequence of passes, all of which would be interesting, given his unusual choice of process and filler. (I say "choice", because he apparently has a water-cooled Lincoln Squarewave 175, which would have been my choice, in stick or TIG, for work on 1/2" med. carbon steel). I would not guarantee those welds to last, even without his doubtful choice of machine and wire.
Since he apparently has such contempt for your (and our) "opinions", perhaps you can invite him to join this thread to defend his procedure. (If he doesn't come, give up, since, as has been said above, you can't fix stupid!).
