Firsts in my shop... having too much fun.

Salem Straub

Salem Straub

Joined
Oct 20, 2008
Messages
5,547
So far, I've been welding damascus on my Little Giant, or longer ago, by hand. Up until now, my primary heating device has been a 10" blown vertical forge. I've been using borax for flux.

Tonight I tried three new things: my first billet welded on the forging press I FINALLY finished building, my first billet heated in the new 14" vertical blown welding forge that I just built, and using kerosene instead of borax flux to weld with.

BIG success on all fronts. Pretty amazing, the big space in the heat chamber, the big squeeze on the whole billet at once, the lack of flux spattering in all directions. And, seeing it all through a new pair of shade 5 green safety glasses.

Darn it, I don't want to go to bed... can't I just stay up and go do it again?
 
Congratulations! I love no-flux welding. Just be aware that the outside edges of the seams sometimes need another weld WITH flux to close up all the way.

Is 14" the size of the pipe you used, or the actual diameter of the chamber?
 
Good advice from Phillip.
I often weld up a 2 inch stack of 15N20 to draw out to about .200" to use on the outside of my damascus billets. (Better results than using thin pieces.)
I always use kerosene due to the large number of surfaces.
After the weld on the press I stick it in the vise and grind off the little edges that did not weld.
Just another thing to keep in mind when moving into new territory.
Gotta love a new forge.
Have fun.
 
It sounds just as exciting to me as it is to you. I know I'll never get to do it but I'm still hoping to get together with a good smith like you and see it done !! Way to go. Man with all the up grades and at one time !!!
Frank
 
Phillip, it's 14" ID of the shell, then 2" of Kaowool so a 10" heat chamber. Still seems roomy to me! Maybe the next one I'll make into an oval like Karl's one welding forge...
Also, after much research, including some WIP stuff of yours, I had borax there and did use a sprinkle for a second welding pass.

Karl, I am using 1/4" CruforgeV bar on the outside of my billets, which seems to be good protection. With a press though, I do have to actually scrape scale off rather than having the hammer blast it away. Kinda different.

Frank, for sure let me know if for any crazy reason you ever happen to be down this way, I'd be very pleased if you dropped by. It's not THAT far.

Well, back to it. Tripling up and then turning it into w's. Gonna try out my swanky square-die setup that I finished the other night...
 
Got some w's drawn out... man it goes easier on a press than my LG50. Box dies worked well, and I'm getting the hang more of drawing out, the rhythm of it and how big of bites the dies want to take at what level of heat etc.
Got a sweet little mascus hunter drilled for a domed bronze pin, and the handle epoxied up, too. Think I'll post some pics of all this pretty soon.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top