[TheForge] Gas Forge Recommendation

[John Husvar]

On Saturday, July 23, 2005, at 10:21  PM, gblacksmith wrote:

> Getting consistent forge welds in all applications is a matter of 
> practice....a great deal of practice....as in "daily"  to get highly 
> skilled at it.  There are just so many judgments to make regarding 
> color, cleanliness of weld scarf, condition of fire, etc. to make 
> forge welding a skill that must be practiced.  There are some 
> applications where a FW really looks the best....add it to your 
> repertoire.

Yep. It's a skill worth knowing and it does require a lot of practice, 
regular practice. It's not quite like riding the proverbial bicycle! :)

Forge welding well demonstrates the vast gulf between knowing what to 
do and knowing how to do it.

>
> There is a reason that gas and later electric welding were 
> invented.....speed, consistency, strength  and ease of repetition.  
> The capacity to weld outside of a forge made much of the large (and 
> small) metal items we take for granted, possible.

I think it's because blacksmiths are really essentially lazy folks 
who're always looking for a better -- and easier -- way to accomplish 
the desired result.

If'n we wasn't so damn lazy, farming and manufacturing would still be 
forty acres and a mule, horse and wagon, heat it and beat it -- and 
hope. :)

>
> I have found that being able to forge weld REALLY makes me appreciate 
> both gas and electric welding all the more.

Amen! Preach it brother! :)

>
> Just my 2 cents.

Oh, I'd put it worth at least a nickel -- or some nickel.

It's not that forge welding is the sine qua non of blacksmithing by any 
means. Blacksmiths -- or their brother metalworkers -- invented many of 
the processes used in manufacturing because other methods were needed 
to increase production and to make possible really large products 
cheaper.

It took a long time to rivet a ship together, for example. I'm not too 
sure just how tough it might be to forge weld a ship hull. (But I am 
sure I don't want to find out!:)

Still, forge welding, if a technique hardly ever used or if one 
constantly used, is worth learning if just for personal satisfaction. 
It's just really cool when finally one sticks on the first try.

Besides, it's fun watching all those flux sparks fly! :)

Blacksmithing and knifemaking: two socially acceptable ways to indulge 
the wish to play with fire and sharp things.