forge atmospheres???

B

BIGBEAR

Joined
May 18, 2004
Messages
302
Hey fellas...Heres something I want to bounce of you guys. How important is controling the atmosphere in your forge from a fuel rich atmosphere to balanced at oxidizing atmosphere and how each one is important to the whole forging process? And if anyone here knows does know....can the Mankel knife makers forge be adjusted to these types of conditions? I just heard about this the other day and am still trying to get more info on it. So I'd love to hear what you guys think and know.:confused:
 
Yes,Yes,and Yes.
The forge atmosphere needs to be neutral to slightly reducing (fuel rich).An oxygen rich atmosphere will cause more rapid decarburization,pitting, and burning of the steel (and reduce the life of the forge).In forging the temperature should be adjusted to keep a slightly fuel rich atmosphere that is at the forging temperature - not roaring at full blast.For welding a neutral atmosphere is optimal,and the forge can run pretty wide open.For Heat treatment,a reducing atmosphere will help control scale and decarb. A Mankel is a very good knife forge.It should be fully adjustable.
Stacy
 
I agree with Stacy. Something else to consider is thermal mass. I have found it handy to have a forge that has a lot of it. This is achieved by building the forge mostly, if not entirely, out of brick or cast refractory rather than ceramic fiber. The heat stores up in the brick/cement (soaks) and when it comes to more delicate welding operations, you can turn the forge way down and still achieve heat. the alternative is essentially surrounding your work with combustion to maintain heat.
I have friends that can't understand how I do certain welding operations and it's usually the same story, Too much violence in the forge and/or too much violence at the hammer.
Incidentally, the Mankel forge is pretty good. I still use the burners/manifold from a Mankel (modified slightly for natural gas) on my current forge. Works fine.
 
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