[TheForge] classes and welding

[Paul N]

All these comments that people CAN weld A36 has me convinced to keep on 
trying to master it.

I'll revisit my flux formulation. This last failure was with straight 20 
Mule Team. In the past I had tried a mix of 50/50 (By weight) of Red 
Iron Oxide and Boric Acid. I know fluxes have been discussed in detail 
here in the past, and I just dug out my "Practical Blacksmithing" and 
reviewed once again the examples of fluxes in there. Then after visiting 
the pottery websites, I found a little more detail about some of the 
materials, and will try some of those.

I think I'll get together some black iron oxide, which is listed as a 
larger partical size than the red I was using, along with some feldspar 
and copperas and try a few different mixtures with anhydrous borax and 
boric acid. If I find the time to do it "scientifically" I'll post my 
results. But don't expect it too soon.

Allen, do you have any advice to pass on of particular things to watch 
for from your 2-day class (along with who taught it)?
And if you've had any experience with recovering from a failure, I'd 
appreciate that too. After all, I've learned that we all fail on 
occasion, and the real difference between "amateur and pro" is often how 
to recover from the mistakes, not just avoiding them.

thanks,
**pn

Allen Ortery wrote:
> I have been going through the many mailings and maybe I am just lucky.
> I don't seem to have any trouble welding A36, not after that two day
> class on forge welding anyway.
>  As for Jerry's class, I have taken his class three times, missed it
> last year, and have learned more and am trying to go back and redo
> everything from those classes. He is agreat instructor and he will
> have 5 projects for the week. Jerry has gotten a little bit more
> relaxed  because he is getting more people who can't keep up the pace,
> but I would say that you will not regret taking his class.
>   If you can make it to the 27th Annual New Salem Hammer In on April
> 18  and 19 we will have a free class from the New England School of
> Metalwork up for auction on Saturday night at the dinner. Many thanks
> to them if they are looking on. For more information contact me at
> bluestoneforge at gmail.com
>   Allen Ortery
>
>