rbranan

Right on Brother. We are the Boilermakers Ironship Builders BlackSmith Forgers & Helpers! http://www.boilermakers.org/resources/news/V47N4/Maiara_uses_blacksmithing_skills_on_and_off_the_job Bobby Branan

Buddy-welding keeps you from pushing the puddle when you get to the sides of the tube and subsequently losing gas coverage from the flux burning. When you start to push the puddle your partner picks you up. We kind of buddy-weld when we GTAW. When you put the TIG torch on the side of the tube you can't see the puddle and your partner might have to feed you wire in the root until you can pull the torch and puddle to the point you can see it and finish. Your partner will watch through the root opening to the insides look OK. Bobby Branan Boilermaker Local 60

Today was the Illinois Valley Blacksmith Annual Meeting. They have a show and tell table and I brought this: L6 Integral Tomahawk Full Tang (L6) Ferrule (L6) Butt Cap (L6) G 10 Scales Socket Head Cap Screws Gun Kote All components forged Bainite Compositon The tang runs fully through the length of the tomahawk and the head, tang (haft), ferrule, and butt cap were all heat treated. It weighs 1 pound 9 oz. Here's the link: Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket L6 is a real pain. The integral metal tomahawk was quenched in salt. I also have some othe tomahawks and "stuff" in my PhotoBucket collection that you might find interesting. Thanks for looking. RB