[TheForge] Copper inlay in steel

[Peter Fels and Phoebe Palmer]

At 09:51 PM 6/2/02, you wrote:
>I had an idea to gouge a piece of steel (1/8" to 1/4") with a plasma cutter
>and either hammer in or melt in some copper wire. I tried it really quick
>today and it doesn't look like it is going to be easy.
>Has anyone tried it or heard of doing it?
>The melting process just produced blobs of copper. Is there some kind of
>prep after the gouging to clean or flux the grove?
>I also found it difficult to get a uniform grove. So I think that is why I
>had problems with the hammering approach. Maybe going over it with some type
>of gouge or rotary tool might even it out.
>Does anyone have any ideas.
>Thanks in advance
>Marc V. Davis III
>Marc of the Hammer
>Allen Park, Mi.
>Marc3rd@comcast.net


Marc3;
You can do it. First the sides of the groove have to be clean to bright 
metal. Use a borax flux and a oxy-fuel torch and  manipulate a sort of 
bubble spanning the kerf, adding rod as you fill on down the line. getting 
the heat just right is the trick. Once it's overheated it is all over. It 
is easier with brazing rod......Pete


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