[TheForge] weld question

[theforge@mailman.qth.net]

I know I have electricaly welded quite a few things that could have been forge welded  Most never look as good as a forge weld and I have seen highly skilled smiths make similar forge welds faster than it takes me to get things set up to weld another way.  I know it's not always the case, but I plan to make forge welding my first choice and onle resort to other means when that is impractical.  I wonder how many hours of labor saved it takes to pay off a nice mig welder?  And maybe that same time wouild be better spent learning to be a better forge welder?  Just one mans opinion, but I just concider blacksmithing & welding to be two seperate crafts and I personaly feel like I cheapen the quality of my work when it goes out of the door with electric welds.


> 
> You folks keep saying "forge weld"
If you are trying to make money, why not mig it?Or as we say "jump weld"?
Isn't mig wire A-36 ?

So many of the questions asked depend on wheather you intend on making a
profit,
or are you " giving it away as a Christmas present".
But then again ,  about 90% of blacksmiths are hobbiest.
Like Jeff Mohr told Saint Francis,  "You're not putting 3 kids through
school."
YES, forge welding has it's place. Do you have a customer that will pay
you
for it?