Damascus in cold weather

[Mike Quesenberry]

I have an 8-way billet that is ready to weld and the temperature at my house is -3 degrees. Has anyone out there had any problems with forge welding in cold temperatures. My shop gets opened completely when I run the forge and would hate to screw-up this billet because of my impatience and not waiting for warmer weather. Thanks for the advice.

 

[delbert ealy]

Mike,
Although its not quite that cold here 15f this morning, I have been working damascus all morning and will continue to do so with no worries. Just make sure you are dressed properly and that you avoid synthetics for your outer layer, they can melt onto you quick in the wrong circumstances.
Thanks,
Del

 

[Mike Quesenberry]

Thanks for the response Delbert, just looked at the temp. and it's now a balmy 12degrees. I'm firing up the forge. Thanks again.

 

[Salem Straub]

If you are welding this by hand on the anvil, I'll say that I have noticed some pretty quick heat loss due to the freezing anvil in similar conditions. You may want to take a weed burner to warm that sucker up a little. Also, at -10 here this morning, morale was also a problem.

 

[Mike Quesenberry]

If you are welding this by hand on the anvil, I'll say that I have noticed some pretty quick heat loss due to the freezing anvil in similar conditions. You may want to take a weed burner to warm that sucker up a little. Also, at -10 here this morning, morale was also a problem.

Salem, luckily I get to use a Carlisle press and a Striker power hammer for damascus. I use a 12" chunk of 3/4" plate to warm up my welding dies and also the face of the anvil. Your right cold steel will rally suck the heat right out of a hot billet.