[TheForge] forge welding

[Allen Ortery]

It is kind of strange having people ask me questions, I am by no means
a pro in my mind. But here goes what I think.  First you really need
to keep your fire in good shape, watch your temp when welding. Most of
my trouble welding comes from having my head some where else. Trying
to weld to hot or to cold, or sometimes trying to get that last weld
for the day and the fire is just to dirty .
I have used 20 mule team borax and am now using red iron oxide and
boric acid 50/50.If you don't get the weld the first time take a
moment to think about what you just did, maybe clean the fire, or make
sure you do not have the metal to deep in the fire. I have thrown the
two pieces on the floor and then welded them the next day in a new
clean fire, bring them back to heat clean well with a brush and
reshape the scarfs and had them go right together.
  So most of welding is attitude and the other 10% is having your fire
right. seems to work when I help others who are having problems, tell
them that the more they think they can do it and the less they fret
over it and just do it the more likely the weld will happen.  Mostly
we all, myself included, worry the weld to death and by the time we
get everything lined up "just right" it is to late and the weld will
never happen. If the weld does not take the best thing to do is clean
and reshape the scarfs as needed. That is the best advice I can give
others may have more to add, but I often have first time people make
a fire poker and so far none has failed to make the weld. The joy of
people who don't have any ideas about welding, you just tell them it
is easy,show them and they do it.
I spent 9 months in the shop at the JCCFS so saw many instructors,
the welding  class I took was  with Charlie Orlando. Charlie only uses
a gas forge welds in it all the time. He also does his scarfs
differently. I thought there was a class listed but do not see it in
the new catalog Most any class, other than Jerry Darnell, would be
more than happy to get you welding better, and Jerry would help you
get it down better also. When I took his lighting class we did 10 or
12 welds in the week I just would not take his class unless I already
had a good bit of welding under me first.
  Hope that helps, Allen Ortery