Matt Lumb

Thanks, overwhelmed that i got so many responses; I forgot to mention that I use a Diamondback three burner LPG forge. I tried some of the suggestions, i have turned up the gas, leaned off the mix, blocked off one of the openings and increased the heat. I get so far and the gas bottle freezes up after about half an hour. Tried the couple of taps and the brush,flux and back in to heat, seemed promising but broke along the join when i tried to flatten the bar. I'm going to see if i can get a local smith to teach me. Was also wondering which side of Magnetic north i should stand 30 degrees from, you guys were pretty specific with the sqinting and tongue bit. I would have thought that it would have to be different in each hemisphere? :) FNQ and WI

All, I thought i'd like to take up blacksmithing and have just started hitting bits of hot metal and trying to make things out of them. Had good success with bending/twisting/riveting etc but would love to be able to forge weld. my aim is to make a chain without the mig. I have a three burner LPG gas forge, flux, and basic tongs/hammers. i have been heating 12mm round MS bar up to a good (and thoroughly soaked) yellow heat and following the process below: 1) heat up bar to red hot and bend to make U shape for link 2)reheat to red and then scarf opposing faces 3) offset and bend/align ends so scarfs (scarves?) align 4) reheat to red and apply flux all round so i have a molten look to the area 5) heat now to yellow and fully soak ( i have richened the mixture by closing off to about 1/3 the inlet regulators to the burner and turning the gas up full. I have alight blue flame and the flames come out of each side of the unit mostly dark blue with orange streaks) i have darkened glasses and the link is yellow but no sparks and not too bright to look at with naked eye. 6)lightly tap with 2lb ball pein hammer ( i tried both flat and ball end) 7) it looked like it had taken and sounded like it was one piece with the cooling/colour uniform over the area. 8) i kept tapping until the link was red and then tried to gently shape the scarf, it then came apart. I have tried this a few times to no avail Can anyone help? Thanks in advance Matt