I second what Rick says.

Here is the first picture in the sequence of welding an axle together, in the captions I explain a little about each step.

http://thumb9.webshots.net/t/59/459/8/12/49/2537812490080251109qAJiLJ_th.jpg

I covered the axle with a ceramic wool blanket when done post heating, it was still slightly warm the next day when I uncovered it. A big bucket of wood ashes is also a good insulator, and could have been used just as well as the blanket to keep the heat in.

Grigg

•1951 GMC 250 in the Project Journals
•1948 Chevrolet 6400 - Detroit Diesel 4-53T - Roadranger 10 speed overdrive - 4 wheel disc brakes
•1952 Chevrolet 3800 pickup
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"First, get a clear notion of what you desire to accomplish, and then in all probability you will succeed in doing it..." -Henry Maudslay-