blackleafforge Posted April 7, 2016 Share Posted April 7, 2016 Hi, I found this in a box I got from a retiring smith along with a heap of other stuff. Can anyone tell me what it is exactly? thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRS Posted April 7, 2016 Share Posted April 7, 2016 From what I read -you know where- it is a flux sheet pressed onto a wire mesh for forge welding steel to iron. The product is used up in the Process. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Bromberg Posted April 7, 2016 Share Posted April 7, 2016 The text at the lower part of the first picture translates from Spanish to English as temperatures pale white iron yellow orange steel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted April 7, 2016 Share Posted April 7, 2016 As KRS states it was a form of flux, a propriatory brand that was popular up until the late fifties early sixties,(when wrought iron was still available) especially useful when putting working faces on to tools eg hammer faces, lathe, milling and other tools. It could be cut to shape to suit the application, It was the "magic compound" of the day for forge welding steel to wrought iron, it would be interesting to see a chemical analysis of what you have there. I've often heard it mentioned by the old time mentors, (with some cheaper alternatives also) but that is the first time I have seen that particular package. Does it mention country of origin? A great little nugget of the smithing history, I wonder how many more examples survive.? Great find, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted April 7, 2016 Share Posted April 7, 2016 Sheets of flux compound would actually be pretty handy. Everything I use straight borax, or see someone doing it, there's a ton of waste as it's spooned onto the steel. Of course, as cheap as borax is, waste really isn't an issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackleafforge Posted April 7, 2016 Author Share Posted April 7, 2016 Thanks for the info all. If you want to swing by you can have a sheet John. 37 minutes ago, John B said: As KRS states it was a form of flux, a propriatory brand that was popular up until the late fifties early sixties,(when wrought iron was still available) especially useful when putting working faces on to tools eg hammer faces, lathe, milling and other tools. It could be cut to shape to suit the application, It was the "magic compound" of the day for forge welding steel to wrought iron, it would be interesting to see a chemical analysis of what you have there. I've often heard it mentioned by the old time mentors, (with some cheaper alternatives also) but that is the first time I have seen that particular package. Does it mention country of origin? A great little nugget of the smithing history, I wonder how many more examples survive.? Great find, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Bromberg Posted April 7, 2016 Share Posted April 7, 2016 If you can get the exact spelling on the package then It can be Googled. The label is printed in spanish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted April 7, 2016 Share Posted April 7, 2016 Could you do a closer picture, or better yet a scan of both sides of the package. Great advertising images from back in the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 7, 2016 Share Posted April 7, 2016 Not Fluent but here's my take: Welding of two pieces of iron or steel; A cut piece between the pieces you're welding; 10 "plates/thin sheets" Laffitte (brand name?) fast/easy; and on the sides: welding plates and powders for welding (fluxes) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted April 7, 2016 Share Posted April 7, 2016 4 hours ago, blackleafforge said: Thanks for the info all. If you want to swing by you can have a sheet John. Thanks for that, I appreciate the offer, and maybe drop down to see you sometime when I am not so busy doing nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SReynolds Posted April 9, 2016 Share Posted April 9, 2016 Well....one day soon the EPA CARB or a host of otherwise out of control government agencies will realize what we do with Borax and outlaw its use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnBello Posted April 10, 2016 Share Posted April 10, 2016 Since I'm a native Spanish speaker, I'll do my best here: -Front (lower photo, with the blacksmith): Welding iron and steels. Made in Spain (in the little white box) 10 light sheets/plates "Laffitte" (the brand) (The same is repeated in the lower edge) -Sides: Gridded sheets. Registered brand and model. -Back (the first photo, with the anvil): Welding 2 pieces of Iron or Steel A piece of sheet between the parts to be welded Temperatures: Pale white for Iron Orange-yellow for steel -Sides: Society of welding powders and sheets, Tarragona (a city in Spain, also the name of this particular company) (PS: Is it "gridded" when something is marked/divided in squares?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Evans Posted April 10, 2016 Share Posted April 10, 2016 That looks familiar. Alan Knight, the blacksmith I trained with, used to have some of those "gridded" pre-scored sheets in a not dissimilar biscuit tin. The tin beside it contained silver sand. He used the sheets for specials like leaf and flower welding. I wonder if the RIB / CoSiRA flower expert Zanni promoted its use when training smiths in the finer points? Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arftist Posted April 10, 2016 Share Posted April 10, 2016 I worked witha smith from Portugal for a while. He described a simmilar product/process. Apparently was either still available or they were working out of old stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Evans Posted April 10, 2016 Share Posted April 10, 2016 A google search for Lafitte Welding Plate reveals an article on Anvilfire discussing the product and its use. Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manovfire Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 I did my master course with the late Freddy Haberman out in Italy and he had some of this Lafitte plate. I was allowed a few pieces to play with. it was easy to cut off squares with a pair of shears. i used it for welding shut a flat ring. a piece was popped between the two overlapping scarfed ends and brought to a mild welding heat. worked a charm. dont remember what i did with the other bit but i had a good look at it. pinkish colour, hardish material (bent slightly) molded into flattened square impressed slab encapsulating the pure iron mesh. my feeling is indeed that the pure iron mesh is the key ingredient. I do wish someone could make it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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