[TheForge] Leaf Stem Transition

[Dave Brown]

At 12:47 02/02/02 -0500, you wrote:
>What methods are used by others besides forge welding for making stem to
>branch connections?  Which do you like best MIG or TIG?
>RW

I've only recently started using gas welding where in the past I used 
brazing, silver soldering, and MIG depending on application.  MIG can add a 
considerable amount of metal (relatively speaking, that is) that can often 
necessitate grinding away the excess.  Brazing and silver soldering "flow" 
under, in, and around the joints and can leave a nice smooth transition 
that needs little or no smoothing.  But, there is that distinct difference 
in metal that is easily seen.  Not a problem if you are painting over the 
piece, but if you are wanting a waxed wrought iron (i.e. you want the fire 
scale to determine the color/patina), the silver or brass brazing material 
will stand out like a sore thumb.

I'm finding that gas welding lets me use  the same steel for filler 
material as the piece I'm welding is made out of.  It doesn't flow like 
braze or solder  (spelter?), but you can control the amount of filler 
material used almost like solder and much more controlled than with MIG or 
stick.  You can "push" the puddle around and with practice (more than I 
have to date) produce a pretty smooth transition with plenty of penetration 
(much better than MIG) and minimal, if any, grinding/sanding the transition 
area.

TIG, from all I've heard but never tried, is the best of all.