Braid Twist by Bill Epps

Bill-Epps : `20:31:05`	Tonight we are doing a braid twist( atwist that looks like a braid)verry inpressive at a show
Bill-Epps : `20:35:30`
Bill-Epps : `20:37:00`	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)
Bill-Epps : `20:37:10`
Bill-Epps : `20:38:13`	fold each end back on itself, where the ends meet at the center.
Bill-Epps : `20:38:30`
Bill-Epps : `20:40:09`	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)
Bill-Epps : `20:40:31`
Bill-Epps : `20:41:30`	Now bend it in 1/2. Still just one piece of metal.
Bill-Epps : `20:42:36`
Bill-Epps : `20:44:23`	Flux and weld the ends (I forge weld these when I am out putting on a demo - if you make up in shop you can mig weld, stick weld them - just heat it up, hammer the welds out and noone but you knows it) Weld Both ends
Bill-Epps : `20:44:59`
Bill-Epps : `20:47:31`	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.
Bill-Epps : `20:47:49`
Bill-Epps : `20:49:06`	It will look something similar to this, don't have a photo for tonight. , but it looks like braided chain, (almost like magic)
Bill-Epps : `20:49:49`	This makes a good handle for anything. Any QUESTIONS.
bobby : `20:51:01`	Bill are you using gas or coal
Bill-Epps : `20:51:40`	Coal on this.
scott : `20:51:20`	what kind of flux do u use
Bill-Epps : `20:53:50`	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.
flatthumb : `20:51:29`	Bill, did you say twist the same direction on each end when you first make the folds?
Chuck-Robinson : `20:52:09`	Bill, how would it look if you used square stock instead of round stock
flatthumb : `20:54:42`	Okay, and approximately what diameter does this make?
Bill-Epps : `20:58:12`	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.
scott : `20:54:48`	can u forge weld with anthricite caol
Bill-Epps : `20:56:26`	/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.
Ntech : `20:54:58`	Bill, what is the add on price for that type of handle?
bobby : `20:56:02`	Bill you said you do this at a near welding heat
Bill-Epps : `20:59:29`	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.
scott : `20:59:40`	what do u mean coke up
Bill-Epps : `21:01:45`	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.
Bill-Epps : `21:00:49`	The thing about this one here, it is all done with one piece of iron, but it .
Bill-Epps : `21:02:56`	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