[TheForge] welding without flux

[bamablacksmith at comcast.net]

One of the things I see newbies do the most is to not upset enough. Its easy to stretch it out but really tough to add metal when you get it too thin.  

I use flux all the time.. not cuz I have to, but because it is more forgiving. If you have a good clean reducing fire you can weld without flux, however if if everything is not right it wont stick. Flux just widens the allowable tolerances of the various parameters. Ive welded with EZ Weld, Cherry Weld, silica sand, dirt dauber nests, borax, and borax with iron powder,  ad nausium. All work to varying degrees but all require a good fire with plenty of heat.

The other thing I see newbies doing is not getting the heat all the way through the pieces. I bring them up to just under welding temp, then cut the fire and let the pieces soak to get the heat all the way thru. This is especially important on thicker material. If the middle is not at welding temp it will not stick well. Remember flux is not a glue, all it does is help move the oxides and slag away from the joint. 


mike


 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "David Seigrist" <dseigrist2004 at yahoo.com>
> I just saw that video about a month ago.  I believe his name is Mark Pearce
> and his shop does restorative work and must forge weld without flux.  He
> said the flux could leach out later causing a white streak to run down the
> iron work.  It was cold enough where he was that you could clearly see him
> breathing fog.  A couple of points about his forge welding:
> 1) the metal was upset quite a bit, even after he welded there was still a
> big bulge in the bar that would have to be hammered down, 2) he took a small
> shovel of hot coke and placed it on the anvil prior to welding, preheating
> the anvil, 3) the scarfs to be welded were placed face down in the fire to
> prevent ash or debris from getting on the faces to be welded, 4) when moving
> to the anvil he did a quick slinging action to get the weld clean, 5) after
> slinging off debris he rotated the metal in his right hand 180 degrees so
> the scarfs were face to face on the anvil.  Steps 4 and 5 were done on the
> way to the anvil with a smooth motion and focused purpose.  After the
> initial weld he took it back up to welding heat a time or two to "wash" the
> weld and blend in the lines.  I tried the same method on a 1/2" square bar
> and it worked fine.  Your time to weld is limited so you must move with a
> purpose.
> 
> David
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of robert hensarling
> Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2008 12:01 PM
> To: Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA
> Subject: Re: [TheForge] welding without flux
> 
> Allen, I don't recall anything thing such as the color being mentioned, but
> I'll try to recall the guys name and look again at the DVD.  Maybe Roger D.
> remembers his name?
> Robert
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Allen Ortery" <bluestoneforge at gmail.com>
> To: <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2008 10:24 AM
> Subject: [TheForge] welding without flux
> 
> 
> >I have heard of people welding without flux but have never seen it
> > done. at what color temp. was he coming out of the fire at, i am the
> > kind of guy that would give it a try.
> > Allen Ortery
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