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Forge welding
- Thread starter peter nap
- Start date
- Joined
- Dec 2, 1999
- Messages
- 9,910
Peter, Forge welding is a snap. Make sure the steel is ground clean of scale, wrap wire around the stack or wire feed the ends together, warm slowly in the fire (propane is easiest) before it turns red begin fluxing with anhyderous borax. This must be done before scale forms from the heat or else it wont weld. Thin layers turn red before you know it, pay attention to the colors. It needs to be removed to actually see its true colors. Wear ultraviolet resistant glasses too. Save your eyes. Cloudy days or a slightly dark shop helps see the correct welding temp if you dont have a pyrometer. When the billet is about orange turn up the propane to make a rich atmosphere. Soak until it is solid lemon yellow 2200-2300 degrees. The flux should be sizzeling at this time. If you see sparks coming out turn the fire off and go in the house, its ruined. Remove and strike it on the anvil. You only have 5-6 seconds to make this weld so dont mess around. Flux it and put it back in until the lemon yellow is back. Remove it again and strike it for a second time. I use a hydraulic press but the hammer is sufficient to make a perfect weld. At this point I begin to draw it out longer and thinner gradully bringing down the fire temp to about 1950-2000 degrees for forging to shape. Forging too cold will shear the welds. Wet wire brush off the flux as you go so the pattern doesnt get disturbed with the lumps it makes. Its a piece of cake. Bruce
- Joined
- Dec 3, 1999
- Messages
- 9,437
Bruce knows what he's talking about. I just got a BEAUTIFUL billet of ladder pattern damascus that Bruce made up for me.
I asked him to offset the ladder, so that the "rungs" are at 45 degree angles to it lengthwise instead of perpendicular. He did it perfect.
The only reason I haven't posted a topic solely dedicated to my satisfaction with this billet is because I'm not sure if Bruce is ready to have a ton of other guys beating down his door for more damascus.
I'll have to take his word on it being a snap though, it doesn't sound like such a cake walk to me.
I guess we'll see after the snow melts a little eh Bruce?
Nick
I asked him to offset the ladder, so that the "rungs" are at 45 degree angles to it lengthwise instead of perpendicular. He did it perfect.
The only reason I haven't posted a topic solely dedicated to my satisfaction with this billet is because I'm not sure if Bruce is ready to have a ton of other guys beating down his door for more damascus.
I'll have to take his word on it being a snap though, it doesn't sound like such a cake walk to me.
I guess we'll see after the snow melts a little eh Bruce?
Nick
- Joined
- Dec 2, 1999
- Messages
- 9,910
Peter, Hope the info helps. I left out 3 things, "practice practice practice"
Nick, thanks for the kind words. Come over anytime you want. Its only a hop, skip and five hour drive. Bruce
Nick, thanks for the kind words. Come over anytime you want. Its only a hop, skip and five hour drive. Bruce