[TheForge] Tig and forge welding

[John Newman]

Tig machine was gone today when I called for more info I guess the price
was good.
At the end of the day today I tried the technique James Viste was
demonstrating at Quad State this past year.  I forge welded some scraps
of fireplace screening onto a 12" diameter piece of 1/4" plate.  I am
going to dish it into a bowl when I am done welding screen on.  My gas
forge isn't big enough to put the 12" diameter I was using so I had to
use the coal forge.  I don't know if it was the fact that the screen
wire is thin or the flux he recommended which I hadn't used before (1
part  boric acid 4 parts borax) but the welding went really easily.  The
screen which was just sitting on top of the plate which was on top of
the fire started to weld before I even took it out of the fire,  the
plate didn't even look like it was up to a full welding heat but it was
sticking so I took it out and welded it.  Next time I am wearing an
apron leather sleeves and gloves though,  the flux really sprays.

John