BM454

International Brotherhood Of Boilermakers-Iron Ship Builders-Blacksmiths_Forgers and Helpers http://www.boilermakers.org/

What type of welder do you have? If it's an AC only you will need to use 6011 Not 6010. The 6010 rod is for DC although I can't really tell the difference between the two. Both of them will burn ya up and everything around you if you're not careful. If you have a DC machine you can burn either rod. 60xx rods are good for someone who has not welded much or is just starting out. You can see your weld due to the fact they do not have a lot of slag to contend with. I would suggest burning a few rods on some scrap before you build your fire pot. The rods are cheap enough to do so. Now if you were burning nickel rods that's a different story.

Most people don't know but, you can weld cast with 7018. That being said and the fact you didn't give much for it, I would build it up with 7018 and put 3 or 4 passes of hard surface rod on it. Would not cost that much. As long as you clean it well before you start there should not be any problems.

Glad to see a fellow Boilermaker on here Scott Teeters Local 454

I live in the mountains of Middle Tennessee. When the roads where made years ago they would blast off the side of mountains to make the roads. Well it would expose coal seams. I know I'm addicted to blacksmithing due to the fact I want to stop and dig coal to burn in my forge and I love to work with metal.

Thank you very much.

I have a Hay Budden myself. I was wondering if you can give me the age of mine? Here's the numbers 209102. That's all I could see as far as numbers goes. Thanks for any help you can give me.

Mill and Mine in Chattanooga Tennessee may have them if not they may be able to help ya out. http://www.millandmine.com/ or this site as well http://www.keystonespikes.com/

Here's a rather good page for what you are looking for. Just remember if you are going to have a long cord on your welder you may need bigger wire from the breaker box to the outlet. What you should do is contact an electrician in your area to find out how the wire size you need for the distance you are going to run your wire to. If you are going to need say 50 feet you will need bigger wire to hold the current. I'm no electrician but, I do know some about it. I know enough to wire 220. Odds are if you go to a store that sells mostly electrical supplies they will be able to tell you just what you need. You can also look at the way your range is wired if you have an electric range that is and or a clothes dryer too. It's all the same. 220 is 220 http://weldingweb.com/archive/index.php/t-9681.html

I use quick connects on my leads. You can add to or take away as much as you like with them. I have to say they are money well spent. http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=tweco+cable+connectors&hl=en&cid=6751589776988525812&ei=DZQZTLbfMITa2QTQqbSSBQ&sa=title&ved=0CBsQ8wIwBTgA#p

You can always turn a 220 machine down but, it's hard to turn a 110 machine up if the machine is not hot enough to do so. There will be times you need a bigger welder. I've learned over the years to get what I want and not anything else. If I'm not happy with the thoughts of buying it I'll not be happy with it when I get it home.

I live is Southeastern Tennessee and it was smoking hot here yesterday. My little forge it out in the sun as well. I tend to (try) get up early. Everything is in the shade here early in the morning. I have a 12 year old cousin who comes and watches/helps from time to time. He got to sweating rather badly and said it's hot. I told him it's just starting to get hot. Give it a month or so.

I do a bit of welding for different people from time to time. I've worked for a guy who owns a sawmill off and on for several years now. I got to thinking today the mill is a bansaw. So I took a 10 min drive to go see if he has any laying around. I picked up around 200 lbs or so of (scrap) blades for $10. I don't know how good they will be for knife blades yet but, I'm gonna find out soon. I think the blades are around 1/8 thick and around 8" to 10" wide.

I have a Lincoln 225 AC/DC, a Lincoln Ranger 8 and a 1956 Lincoln Shield Arc portable machine. The 56 model is DC only. I have to say the Ranger 8 has been a great little machine. If you have time you can always look somewhere like craigslist.org and or your local pawn shop. I think the Lincoln 225 AC/DC runs around $550 new. I gave $150 for mine.