Chiphead, you and I are talking about the same thing.
I said: "Use a puddle/spray torch to apply a powdered nickle alloy"
Yes, I have actually done this kind of work. We cooled the engine block ( F O R D 8N tractor) I welded in a large bin of vermiculite. Didn't take it out for 2 days. It was still warm when we did.
This process is absolutely the best I've seen. Great for hard-facing too (I did some shovels for the local USFS "Hotshots" crew).
This was about 9 years ago................and it was not a new thing then, either.
Torch set at the time was about $500, but I don't know what they go for now.
