about forging

J

jraney

Joined
Aug 6, 2010
Messages
77
hey folks i am almost ready to try forging something , but first i would like a couple q's to be answered.
what is the difference in forge welding and folding? also on youtube i watch people forge weld materials and i see them brush on what i think is some sort of flux but what is the substance they are using?
if you all could answer these for me or tell me where i can read about this please let me know. thanks
 
Forge welding is joining of two or more metals into one. The technique for making a multi layer billet is done a few ways.

One way is to cut and stack multiple layers and weld/tack them together.

Another way is to take longer bar and use a hot cut to cut most of the way through the bar and fold it in half building up the layer count by multiple folds.

The substance being used for flux is borax. That's the quick answer to your questions. :-)
 
Additionally, welding is skill that you should practice after you first learn basic forge craft such as temperature/forging environment control (neutral/rich/etc), hammer and other tool control, and heat treatment of steel, etc. Wanting to weld out of the gate is like running before walking. There are many DVDs, you tube videos, and books on the subject ~ but if at all possible your best bet is to go hang out with a local smith and watch him work. I would also suggest joining a local blacksmithing organization, most states have a couple chapters, and sign up for some classes. You can find these through ABANA and other sites.
 
Here is a good youtube video that will answer some of your questions as well as show an applied technique.
[video=youtube_share;7Fp8b0qeNOc]http://youtu.be/7Fp8b0qeNOc[/video]
 
I like to describe it this way:

The difference between forging a bar or steel and forge welding a billet of steel, is the same as the difference between whittling a point on a stick, and carving a chain out of a stick. Both use the same tools and raw materials.....it just takes a lot more practice and skill to do one than the other.
 
well thanks again for the replies and video. i saw on youtube a guy made a tomahawk from a railroad spike and he forge welded a peice of steel in the end for the cutting tip. this was the main reason i had this question. i was not sure if the flux needed to be used when folding though. anyhow thanks for trying to better explain these things to me, i will be honest i hate reading, i find myself just reading the words and not listening to what is being said, so i do prefer video but that does not mean i will not read the advice you folks give me.i would like to really get started trying to forge out anything but right now it is around 100 degrees here in oklahoma so i am thinkin this may be a winter time hobby, but we'll see. thanks
 
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