AliciaT

I have the same forge... well mine is the whisper momma it has ports in the front and back for bar stock. Anyways welding isn't a problem at 2300 degrees you just have to work fast, hammer gently(more of a pulling smoothing motion), keep the work only out of the forge for seconds at a time, and do not hit it once it starts to cool(20 seconds-ish)or you break your weld. Clean metal and flux are necessary, preheating your anvil with hot metal till it is hot to the touch really makes it work a lot easier also.

Okay I went out a did a bit more with a less rich flame and it was fine so I will just avoid that flame, and I do have a bit of a tendency to stall in one area so I will watch that. thanks

So I have recently become the happy owner of an o/a set up. Love it. I am doing quite good with my welds and am in process of making an anvil stand. Anyways yesterday I was toying with different flames thinking I could really get a good puddle with any of them but I found one that didn't work for me. It was a neutral flame just very rich in both so I can only surmise it was to hot. Instead of a nice molten puddle I could push around I got puddles that were boiling and ugly. So clearly that did work wont try it again but what happened did I boil the metal? and is that bad? I had no chance of welding with it as stuff was just happening to fast and I couldn't control the puddle since it wasn't staying flat and smooth. The fellow who has shown me the basics has been welding for 35yrs but as a farrier has only needed it for quick applications so hasn't really studied it. I am a farrier too but I want to be a blacksmith and farrier so need more info. :)