anybody here ever done any thermite welding? I have a HUGE ol' US made vice, and when I bought (many decades ago) it had the lower front 'tang' triangle broken off. very thick part of the casting. like a dumbash, back then, I held the pieces together, and nickel-rod welded it just around the outer crack-seam, probably without preheat or postheat, too.
I'd like to start using that vice every day, so I'd like cut the old welds, sererate the busted-off piece again, then re-do it the RIGHT way "somehow or another"
related questions: if using thermite proves impractical for whatever reason, how hot can I make a charcoal fire BE, in degrees, assuming I stack some firebricks in a circular beehive sort of shape, and have it 'blower fed' air, from like a vacuum cleaner or somethin'?
what's involved with thermite, anyway, other than the danger? would I need to make 'side and bottom' molds for it somehow, to contain the molten stuff? out of what? there -are- videos on youtube, of guys thermite-welding railroad tracks (and other bizarre thermite stuff, like melting through car hoods then their engine blocks "in one pass")...is thermite even procurable, or do I need to make my own? (thermite recipes also online).
please, no replies from 'insurance adjuster, safety warning' or 'just go buy a new $900 vice' type guys...
many thanks,
toolie the DIY guy :-)