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Filing forge scale
- Thread starter Makermook
- Start date
- Joined
- May 25, 2008
- Messages
- 263
soak it in normal white vinegar overnight, you will be able to wipe most of it off.
- Joined
- Dec 14, 2010
- Messages
- 403
What he said. I was surprised when I took it out the next day or several hours later whatever it was. Don't toss the files though. Someone posted the name of a company in Cali that can revamp them for you, if it's worth it to you to do that.
- Joined
- Dec 3, 1999
- Messages
- 9,437
You can heat the vinegar to speed up the process if you want.
If the blade is forged a little thick, you can zip over it with a small angle grinder and it will buzz the scale right off.
I get a kick out of some of the complaints I hear about grinding certain hi alloy steels... because they're all soft compared to taking a heavily scaled blade to the grinder.
Once you start understanding forge atmosphere and forging temps, then scale will be less of an issue to deal with. And there are little tricks like the "wet forging" method the Japanese use.... just keep the hammer in a bucket of water and brush some water on the anvil--- make sure you've got safety glasses on--- the scale will pop off!
If the blade is forged a little thick, you can zip over it with a small angle grinder and it will buzz the scale right off.
I get a kick out of some of the complaints I hear about grinding certain hi alloy steels... because they're all soft compared to taking a heavily scaled blade to the grinder.
Once you start understanding forge atmosphere and forging temps, then scale will be less of an issue to deal with. And there are little tricks like the "wet forging" method the Japanese use.... just keep the hammer in a bucket of water and brush some water on the anvil--- make sure you've got safety glasses on--- the scale will pop off!
I've been soaking hot rolled steel in vinegar. after two, three, four, or more hours I can scrub much off with a steel scrubber, then back in the vinegar again. I keep repeating this until it's all gone, usually 3-4 times.
I've wondered what the heck it's made of to be so hard. Why don't we throw the steel away and just use the scale? We would have knives that would never need sharpening.
- Paul Meske, Wisconsin
I've wondered what the heck it's made of to be so hard. Why don't we throw the steel away and just use the scale? We would have knives that would never need sharpening.
- Paul Meske, Wisconsin
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2005
- Messages
- 9,680
I often do the "wet forging" technique that Nick described... Something I picked up from Wally Hayes. He ain't kidding about the scale either... "the scale wil BLOW the F@#K OFF" is a more appropriate description.
Rick
Rick