Took me three tries to get my forge welds to actually hold on a gate latch

Kept having cold shuts until I figured out I was pulling the metal out of the fire too early and not letting the flux settle properly has anyone else struggled with getting that sweet spot on the heat?

2 comments

2 Comments

roseb4725d ago

Watched my first weld crack right in half while I was showing it off to my buddy, felt like that SpongeBob meme where he's trying to look tough but everything's falling apart. Got so frustrated I almost threw the whole thing in the scrap bucket and went back to stick welding just to feel good about myself again. Then I realized I'd been pulling it out when the metal was barely past dull red instead of waiting for that nice straw color under the flux. Now I just talk to myself about timing like a crazy person while I'm holding the tongs.

the_amy25d ago

Used to think color was just for looks, but you changed my mind about that timing trick.