Hot Metal

[MLB]

I've been designing structural steel and specifying welds for a long time now, but haven't had the opportunity to give it a try myself... until last weekend.



It's easy to specify the weld that you need. Actually laying down a good clean structural connection takes a bit more skill.

Sticking the rod to the base metal is child's play however. I've mastered that bit.

[5ontarget]

I've been threatening to make my neighbor teach me to weld. For now I just take the metal bits to him and say can you fix it, please?

Was this just an exercise, or were you working/fixing something?

[MLB]

A little of both. A pal of mine forges Damascus blades in his garage as a hobby. Early on in the process is stacking thin plates of alternating sheets of high and low carbon steel to be heated and forged together. Generally, you tack weld these stacks together before they go into the furnace.

It's not a critical weld, so it's a good one to learn on. Later on this summer, I'll be making a blade or two of my own. Should be fun.