Xref: utzoo rec.org.sca:4792 trial.rec.metalworking:23 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!ut-emx!walt.cc.utexas.edu!jerry From: jerry@walt.cc.utexas.edu (Jerry Porter) Newsgroups: rec.org.sca,trial.rec.metalworking Subject: Re: Blacksmithing Summary: Welding Message-ID: <35319@ut-emx.UUCP> Date: 6 Aug 90 21:38:50 GMT References: <1823@otc.otca.oz> Sender: news@ut-emx.UUCP Reply-To: jerry@walt.cc.utexas.edu (Jerry Porter) Organization: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas Lines: 41 In article <1823@otc.otca.oz> wayner@otc.otca.oz (Wayne Robinson) writes: >legowik@cme.nist.gov (Steven Legowik) says: >> Xref: otc rec.org.sca:613 trial.rec.metalworking:5 >> In-reply-to: wayner@otc.otca.oz's message of 23 Jul 90 23:02:07 GMT >> >> I haven't yet had the opportunity to experiment with a whole lot of >> different types of coals (or cokes). Amanda, you are the second >> enough fire. Wayne, if you are having trouble getting a weld to take >> there is probably something wrong with the forge, the fire, or your >> technique, not the coal. You are fluxing the steel before trying to >> make the weld arn't you? > > I use borax, but I can only weld on a "new" fire. After a few hours >I just can't get it to welding heat. At least I can't burn the steel:-). >A blacksmith friend on mine has the same trouble with hip portable forge >so it could be a design fault. What do you people use as flux? > > Wayne. Hm... It took a long time to learn how to weld in a forge. I first tried borax from the grocery store, but I couldn't get it to work. I bought some weld/brazing flux and eventually got it to work. The flux looked just like the borax I bought, so I think its pretty much the same stuff. The things I have found that are important are: fluxing, heating, hammering. I have been able to weld once the forge gets going, it takes about 30 minutes to get going good. I'm using smithing coal right now. Once it gets going, you carefully heat the metal, then you flux it, heat it to welding heat, just before it starts to burn, then put the too pieces together and give it one goo solid hit. You can feel the metal stick when it is ready to weld. You might check to make sure you are still getting pently of air and the impuraties in the coal aren't clogging up your forge. You also might be running out of fuel. I know it sounds silly, but I had that happen to me some, when I first started. Jerry Porter AKA Bass Wastelan | Disclaimer, we don't need no stinkn' Star's End 512-255-1030 2400baud | disclaimers. jerry@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu | --------------------------------------| |---------------------------| I LIKE it. | | All roads lead to Trantor.|