First Forging, First Pattern Welded, First time questions.

C

cartierusm

Joined
Feb 23, 2017
Messages
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Will post a pic tomorrow when the billet is cool enough and I've etched it.

I've never forged anything before, but I'm a machinist and metal fabricator so I went straight for a pattern welded steel billet.

7" x 1 1/2" x 12 layers of 15N20 and 1084. Folded. Forge Welded. Cut Folded is opposing directions. Drawn out and did a light twist. We'll see how she looks.

Couple questions.

1. When do I need to stop fluxing? I did about 3 different fluxes during each welding period. Not sure when to stop. I assume 3 is good if the weld takes and anytime you're opening up the metal and drawing it out and for folding of course?

2. When do I brush the scale off? I've been heating the billet > fluxing > heat to welding temp > setting the weld and/or drawing out then brushing the scale off before either refluxing or heating up to draw it out more. Sound about right? Every time I draw it out should i brush it before returning it to the forge?

3. Originally I thought I needed white hot for forge welding, but realized that was for in a dark shop. I'm outside in the sun so I realized that a bright orange (not dull) is about the right temp. Does that sound correct?
 
1.) stop fluxing when you are fairly confident the weld has taken.

2) I don't bother brushing scale, it just makes more room for more scale to form. However I grind all surfaces clean before each new weld.

3.) forge temp colors are subjective from person to person and from lighting situation to lighting situation, nobody here is going to be able to give you an accurate answer. If you welds are sticking and you are not burning the steel, you are in the right neighborhood. A thermocouple can be a good investment when starting out to get your setup dialed in.

Best of luck
 
I brush off the scale quickly when re-applying the flux at each heat. I brush it down well after a set of welds before inspecting the billet. As long as the billet stays in the red range, the scale isn't too much problem. The big stuff forms and flakes as it cools to black.

A quick grind off to bare metal ( on the sides that will contact each other) before folding is always a good idea. This can be done while red hot with an angle grinder. Make the hot cut 3/4 the way through the bar. Brush and then hit with the grinder, re-heat the billet before it cools below red, flux, fold, re-heat, re-flux, weld.
 
You're psychic, I was just doing that. I wanted to try hot cutting. But when I went to fold I noticed I couldn't get the big patches of scales off with my brush. So I knew it a little too cold and heated back up and was able to brush most off, but knew it had to be spotless so I hit it with Ye Ole Angl Grindr.

Thanks for the help and precognition.
 
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