Tonight we are doing a braid twist( atwist that looks like a braid)verry inpressive at a show

I atart with a bar of 1/4″ iron 24″ long, and mark the center. (Any size will work, I just happened to be using 1/4″ on this piece)

fold each end back on itself, where the ends meet at the center.

Twist each end the same number of turns in the same direction. (In this 6″, I grab an inch in the fice and put 4 turns on it clockwise)

Now bend it in 1/2. Still just one piece of metal.

After both ends are welded (remember when you are working a weld, keep it at or near a welding heat), take a good even heat, and twist the opposite direction 1/2 as many turns as you went in the first direction. If you went clockwise, go counterclockwise.

It will look something similar to this, don’t have a photo for tonight. , but it looks like braided chain, (almost like magic)

This makes a good handle for anything. Any QUESTIONS.

Bill are you using gas or coal

Coal on this.

what kind of flux do u use

I use 20 Mule Team Borax as a flux (always) when doing forge welds. -Flatthumb, I go clockwise on first ftwists, just out of habit, on both ends, yes it is the same direction.

Bill, did you say twist the same direction on each end when you first make the folds?

Bill, how would it look if you used square stock instead of round stock

Okay, and approximately what diameter does this make?

Flatthumb, this makes about 3/4″ Diameter. Scott I haven’t had good luck at all with Anthricite Coal. It won’t coke up, and makes a soupy mess in the bottom of the forge when I tried to weld. I really can’t recommend it. Using Antrhicite takes a different style of forge than what I have.

can u forge weld with anthricite caol

/Tim-Glidewell Scott, I haven’t had very much luck with trying to use anthricite coal. The anthricite I had never did form any coke, just big puddle of soup down in bottom of forge, and did not work well at all.

Bill, what is the add on price for that type of handle?

Bill you said you do this at a near welding heat

N-tech, it is hard to say, it just d epends on what you are addig it to. On fire tools I usually ad 50% to the piece.

what do u mean coke up

When the oils and gases burn off of coal, it forms coke, of good coal. The coke and forced air gives you the high intense heat.

The thing about this one here, it is all done with one piece of iron, but it .

I use good grade of bituminus coal. A good smithing coal will have less than 1% sulphur less than 2% ash, and a BTU yield of between and 13,000 and 15,000 BTU