Abstract: A method for joining ductile iron with steel includes the steps of depositing a metallic material between a first ductile iron component, and a second steel component. The joint formed by the method has an interface disposed between the two components and the first and second components are welded thereto. The interface includes the metallic material. The metallic material preferably includes nickel sprayed to the joint area. The resulting interface material is a weld bead zone that preferably includes nickel at a concentration ranging from about twenty-two percent to about thirty-two percent, most preferably between about thirty percent and about thirty-two percent. The welding step of the present invention preferably includes the use of laser energy to localize fusion of the components and the metallic material.