(October 5, 2020 at 10:49 am)Fireball Wrote: Boru, you might look into copper smithing. Copper is a lot easier to work that steel. I've made a few copper items.

If you think that you might want to carve, have you considered wood? You already have some of the tools you would need.

Quite frankly, I think I’m pretty much done with woodwork as a craft. Having made or restored about 1500 instruments, I’ve taken it as far as I care to.

Good advice on the copper, though.

Boru

(October 5, 2020 at 10:50 am)Gawdzilla Sama Wrote: OR if you want angry burns on  your person that make great conversation starters how about jewelry making, silversmithing and the like.

That shouldn’t be an issue. Once the burns heal, they’ll blend right in with my existing network of scars.

But yeah, precious metal smithing is definitely an idea in the mix.

Boru

I know that popeyespappy has been making knives. Shoot him a PM.

I don't have any forging experience but I do have a flux core welder and a angle grinder with a cutting wheel. I built a welding table with my son and it was pretty fun. I plan on crafting a break-barrel shotgun at some point.

(October 5, 2020 at 2:08 pm)Rhizomorph13 Wrote: I don't have any forging experience but I do have a flux core welder and a angle grinder with a cutting wheel. I built a welding table with my son and it was pretty fun. I plan on crafting a break-barrel shotgun at some point.

You flux core have option for C25?

(October 5, 2020 at 4:07 pm)onlinebiker Wrote:

(October 5, 2020 at 2:08 pm)Rhizomorph13 Wrote: I don't have any forging experience but I do have a flux core welder and a angle grinder with a cutting wheel. I built a welding table with my son and it was pretty fun. I plan on crafting a break-barrel shotgun at some point.

You flux core have option for C25?

Nope, it is dedicated flux core it was super cheap from Harbor Freight and I'm glad I didn't go full MIG because we just don't use it enough. If we get going again and get more projects under our belts I'll definitely upgrade because flux core welds are ugly as shit and spatter all over the place, but the job gets done and for much less than getting a full-on MIG.

(October 5, 2020 at 4:12 pm)Rhizomorph13 Wrote:

(October 5, 2020 at 4:07 pm)onlinebiker Wrote: You flux core have option for C25?

Nope, it is dedicated flux core it was super cheap from Harbor Freight and I'm glad I didn't go full MIG because we just don't use it enough. If we get going again and get more projects under our belts I'll definitely upgrade because flux core welds are ugly as shit and spatter all over the place, but the job gets done and for much less than getting a full-on MIG.

There is more splatter - that for sure... You can get a spray that helps keep the splatter from sticking to your workpiece. To me the BIG advantage of going to shielding gas is the air quality. Flux core is basically the same as stick welding - as far as particulate matter in the air. It smokes like a mofo....

Going with C25 (argon with 25% CO2) is much easier on the lungs. Almost no smoke. A bit more expensive and as you know - more initial investment. Added bonus - you get an increase in duty cycle due to the cooling effects of expanding CO2.

(October 5, 2020 at 4:44 pm)onlinebiker Wrote:

(October 5, 2020 at 4:12 pm)Rhizomorph13 Wrote: Nope, it is dedicated flux core it was super cheap from Harbor Freight and I'm glad I didn't go full MIG because we just don't use it enough. If we get going again and get more projects under our belts I'll definitely upgrade because flux core welds are ugly as shit and spatter all over the place, but the job gets done and for much less than getting a full-on MIG.

There is more splatter - that for sure... You can get a spray that helps keep the splatter from sticking to your workpiece. To me the BIG advantage of going to shielding gas is the air quality. Flux core is basically the same as stick welding - as far as particulate matter in the air. It smokes like a mofo....

Going with C25 (argon with 25% CO2) is much easier on the lungs. Almost no smoke. A bit more expensive and as you know - more initial investment. Added bonus - you get an increase in duty cycle due to the cooling effects of expanding CO2.

Good to know but again it comes down to welding frequency. We just don't do enough to worry about it. From the videos I've seen that makes sense the process just looks a lot cleaner.

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Boru,

What would you hope to be the output of your metalworking? Like whatcha buildin'?

I'll check into that spray for easing spatter removal. I made a couple gates with angle iron frames and 2X6 stiles. When I used the arc welder I got so much bird shit that I put it away and used my oxyacetylene rig. Nice clean welds with almost no grinding. I arc weld outside, because the smoke is nasty.

(October 5, 2020 at 5:24 pm)Rhizomorph13 Wrote:

(October 5, 2020 at 4:44 pm)onlinebiker Wrote: There is more splatter - that for sure... You can get a spray that helps keep the splatter from sticking to your workpiece. To me the BIG advantage of going to shielding gas is the air quality. Flux core is basically the same as stick welding - as far as particulate matter in the air. It smokes like a mofo....

Going with C25 (argon with 25% CO2) is much easier on the lungs. Almost no smoke. A bit more expensive and as you know - more initial investment. Added bonus - you get an increase in duty cycle due to the cooling effects of expanding CO2.

Good to know but again it comes down to welding frequency. We just don't do enough to worry about it. From the videos I've seen that makes sense the process just looks a lot cleaner.

---

Boru,

What would you hope to be the output of your metalworking? Like whatcha buildin'?

Doodads and whatnots, basically. I don't really have a goal or a project in mind, other than to learn something new.

Boru