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[quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken Boutet/Thermite Welding Charge (very common on most large railroads) Rail is preheated by gas welder & air injector Boutet form is molded to the rail with clay and & a steel jig form & mold. Large pot on top is initially heated by flame. Inside the pot is pure refined steel ground into dust surrounded by chemical thermite charge Flame in the pot starts a superhot chemical reaction with boutet thermite charge. Thermite charge melts pure steel dust into liquid steel. (in your best Austin Powers, can you say "Hot Liquid MAGMA"? - thought you could!). Pot is swung over molded rail joint, opened on the underside and poured into the mold. Wait 20 minutes or so, break the mold away after the steel cools down enough. Grind remainder to the proper finish. A really hot, dirty job. Whatever you do, don't allow water anywhere near the boutet charge! [/quote] Thanks Mudchicken, Its kind of like a portable foundry. I was curious about how it was done, because I have a little project going where we are restoring a 1917 3inch field gun. When it was "decomissioned", the Army took a cutting torch and cut a line from the muzzle all the way through the breech. We are looking for ways to fill in the cut. It looks like the good old arc welder is going to be our best option. Thanks again for the info. Admiral
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