Connecting Edges

R

RedEdge77

Joined
Jul 13, 2005
Messages
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I have a cheap machete that i'm folding over to make into a small throwing knife and have a question. I have it folded over but i can't get the edges to stick together all the way. I was wondering if i should use a vice for it or if a ball peen hammer would work good?

Thanks for all the help.
 
Are you trying to forge weld this? I don't quite understand the problem, telling us a little more about what's going on might help.
 
Ok sorry. Yeah I am trying to forge weld two pieces together but i cannot get them to stay together. I was wondering if there is a certain type of a hammer used for this or if i should use a vice and just squeeze them together?

Don't know if that helped at all but thanks for looking anyways.
 
There are a lot of things to keep in mind.

Were the surfaces clean when you fold the blade over? That's important.

Is it hot enough? Just as a general rule, if you get it up to 2200F it should work just dandy.

Are you using flux? It's a heck of a lot easier to forge weld with flux. I like anhydrous borax, but the 20 mule team stuff from the store will work.

An actual forge weld doesn't take much force. Tap it from the center out, so as not to trap any flux inside.

Hope this helps :)
 
Forge welding can be a bit tricky especially when there is going to be much reduction in size (pounding). Heat and pressure is what causes the bond. Flux is applied to lower the melting point of any scale already there and protect against further oxidation. Borax is a common flux sometimes mixed with salammoniac, boric acid or flourspar. There are also commercial forge welding compounds that work well and are available from most blacksmith or farrier supply houses. A clean reducing fire and clean mating surfaces help. There are some good tutorials online that might help you get started. Anvilfire.com has one and I'm sure there are others if you look.

The first time you get a weld to stick is a real thrill and finding a delamination or inclusion in a pattern welded blade is always a let down.
 
So for the borax do you apply it to the blade before or after you put it in the forge?

Then you just hammer away?
 
You'd put your steel in the forge until it barely starts to glow, take it out and flux it, put it back in until it gets to welding heat, take it back out and tap it together as quick as possible.
 
Also be aware that most machete's are very thin, and in thin stock it's hard to get a good weld on a wide piece, so I usually won't use steel more than 1"- 1¼" wide on anything less than about 1/8" thick, and even then, welding two layers that thin is tricky as well.

Any reason why you're not starting with a more apropriately sized piece of steel? if you're making a throwing knife almost any steel will work, Even mild steel if you have a good point cross section.
 
The only reason i'm using this is because its what was lying around. It was more of an impulse thing:) .
 
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