Stoody® Celebrates 90 Years of Hardfacing Tradition

Hardfacing history began ninety years ago when two brothers in a small California shop were experimenting with a new weld overlay process at a time no one else had even heard of the concept.

Ninety years ago, no one had even heard of the concept. But in a small shop in Whittier, CA, two brothers were experimenting with a new weld overlay process. The result was Stoody® Rod, and hardfacing history began.

The Stoody® division of Thermadyne Industries, Inc. (Saint Louis, MO) was started in 1921 when brothers Winston F. and Shelley M. Stoody opened up the Stoody Welding Co. to service the growing farm implement and tractor repair business. Right after opening their storefront, oil was discovered nearby, and a whole new business was born: repairing drill bits from the oil rigs.

The brothers were convinced there could be a way to make the drill bits more durable and to stay sharper longer. They developed a technique, called hardfacing that would stay with the industry for many decades. Hardfacing is the overlaying of metal with a coating of abrasion-resistant alloys via a welding process. This overlay greatly extends the life of the equipment.

Over the years, most of the major firsts in hardfacing technology would originate in one place – the Stoody laboratory. Impressive advances included Stoodite®, the first cast hardfacing rod and Borium®, the company’s trademark for the world’s first tungsten carbide material for hardfacing. And, credit the laboratory with the industry’s first application of the submerged arc welding process.

Other laboratory innovations include the world’s most wear-resistant all position wire, non-chromium bearing consumables, and crack-free corrosion/erosion resistant overlays.

Stoody® joined the Thermadyne family in 1988.  Its welding wire and electrode products support the steel, power generation, petroleum oil and gas drilling, recycling, cement, pulp and paper, agricultural, metal casting, construction and other industries. Built in Bowling Green, KY in 1991, the division employs 90 people at its on-site facilities and proudly states that its U.S. manufactured products are focused on helping U.S. businesses to continue to grow.

“Through imagination, dedication and revolutionary spirit, this division earned its reputation for innovation and industry leadership,” said Tom Penko, the marketing manager of Stoody. “Our customers can count on that same spirit today, as we deliver the finest and most cost-effective solutions to the toughest wear problems.”

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