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6:27 pm
NWBA Member
November 8, 2010
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Ries- I remember being in on the argument with you and John about the 'best' way to hang a gate! To his credit, CVF lives on and I do think frequently about it, Lillico helps with visualizing the concept.
Welding:
In welding school (in mine at least) they teach you to oxy-acetylene weld first. You didn't move on until you did all the positions; flat, horiz, overhead and vertical. Pipe also while you're at it. By the time you were done, TIG welding seemed second nature. I've used both methods for branching scroll/leaf type stuff but where I really found gas is unique is in it's ability to 'wash' around the puddle. Yeah, TIG can do that but gas seems to soften the ripples. The one place I use gas only is for welding chain. I know- how often do you do that? Well- I had to lengthen a pull-chain on a chain fall the other day. Have you ever tried to ground a chain to weld on it? Unless you have it at the link you're working on it's a pain.
They only remember you when you SCREW UP~!!!
1:23 pm
August 14, 2010
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In the Eastman House in Rochester, NY there is a pair of Yellin grills that undeniably have been gas welded. I took some pictures of it to make some trouble on the internet, if it's important I can dig them out.
(It's definitely Yellin's work, it's listed in the back of Jack Andrew's book.)
2:31 pm
November 8, 2010
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Yeah we did OFW first and then SMAW, GMAW and finally GTAW.
MIG was the worst due to the fact that the machines were pretty much totaled by the high school kids who went to the college during the day so by the time we'd get them sorted out it was time to leave :p
I know where you are coming from Ries. Only been forging for a few years and so far I've done everything wrong! 😉 Nobody will tell me what's right, but boy they sure like telling me what's wrong. It's a good thing I'm not a blacksmith 😉
Traditional joinery is awesome, but it can be difficult to execute without a helper. The purists who whine about modern welding are usually the same ones promoting the "ONE SMITH ONE SMITHY" rule which is completely bogus. When you're holding a top tool in one hand, a hammer in the other and you see the work still in forge that whole theory starts to fall apart :giggle:
I guess I should spend 8 hours welding fixtures and jigs so I can avoid an hour of welding and cleanup on the workpiece :p
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7:02 pm
March 18, 2010
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I take much the same satisfaction from gas welding as forging - No invisible electro-magical force from heaven falderal - just me and fire and iron.
Guess we'll all do what our own level of guilt will allow. The guilt is never about what the customer will think, it's about what other blacksmiths will think. It's only blacksmiths who get right up and personal with a gate and lay down on the ground to see if the pickets are tennoned. In business you need to follow the money, not the critics!
“There are painters who transform the sun into a yellow spot,
but then there are others who, with the help of their art and their intelligence,
transform a yellow spot into the sun.” ~ Pablo Picasso ~
7:17 pm
January 18, 2011
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I haven't seen any disparaging posts from the traditional camp.....could it be they don't give a toot............bm
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."
— Dr. Seuss
8:23 pm
I'm wondering where Jack got off to....
I first learned Mig, but then learned to O/a weld. O/a welding is like hot punching vs drill press, doing the harder one first really makes you better at the easier one, or makes you appreciate it more.
8:27 pm
NWBA Member
April 22, 2010
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Grant;8546 wrote: I take much the same satisfaction from gas welding as forging - No invisible electro-magical force from heaven falderal - just me and fire and iron.
Guess we'll all do what our own level of guilt will allow. The guilt is never about what the customer will think, it's about what other blacksmiths will think. It's only blacksmiths who get right up and personal with a gate and lay down on the ground to see if the pickets are tennoned. In business you need to follow the money, not the critics!
Grant, I think you totally nailed it.
Its like the way women dress for other women, not for men.
Blacksmiths worry about what other blacksmiths will think about the work.
10:34 pm
January 18, 2011
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"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."
— Dr. Seuss
3:15 pm
NWBA Member
April 19, 2010
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i think part of the guilt is trying to make your different from the "bought it from kings and welded it together " guys .... i try to keep from welding mainly for that reason .. i have no problem welding but generally stay away from jobs that are only welding as its not "what i do" ... its always a personal decision on when to weld or when to use a premade element...its not something that a person who doesnt care about quality worrys about...only a true craftsman will even be thinking in these terms so ide keep thinking about it but dont let it bother you too much...after all its how the finished product looks and works thats the real issue and if you like it then youve done well!!
3:24 pm
March 22, 2010
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Good point Eric... (or at least a point that I can twist to my situation and feel better about my choices:showoff:)
Whatever you are, be a good one.
Abraham Lincoln
5:34 pm
NWBA Member
November 8, 2010
Offline
Something Gary Gloyne said really struck home with me: He only hires certified welders in his blacksmithing shop. Seems a guy may be a decent smith but he can't weld for Sh*t!. I totally concur- I hired a guy based on his smithing experience in that I assumed he 'Had' to be a decent welder and good with a cutting torch. Wrong on all accounts. Shoulda gave a welding test.
No guilt here- it should be a requirement.:timebomb:
They only remember you when you SCREW UP~!!!
6:33 pm
June 9, 2010
Offline
Here's a detail of a leg/shelf on a coffee table. Theres three welded joints in the photo.
The most obvious is the cross member welded to the collar, which is a bit cheeky. I mean, I went to the trouble to make a collar and upset the rebar and then I go and buzz a big fat weld in there. Could've plug welded it.
#2 is in the middle of the slats. They get quite thin and executing that inside taper takes so much time (by that I mean $). I could do it but...
The last is where the slats sit on the cross brace. I like the look of them just laying there so they got a quick buzz on the back.
Does knowing I can make these quick joints affect my design? You bet. Better, worse??? Hopefully equal or better, and almost always more efficient.
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