Forging with Nickle powder in both pure and nonpure

S

stefanj

Joined
Aug 5, 2007
Messages
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I was thinking about messing around with forgwelding some cable and trying to forge weld some nickle powder in. I ordered pure nickle powder and some nickle powder that is not pure (I believe it is about 4% nickel).
Any advice?

Thanks
 
If you forge weld in some powder you will need to put it into some sort of container. I use a 3x3 or 4x4 square tube. I normally make it about 6 inches long. I have seen others use muffler tubing to just fit the cable and drizzle powder into the can until you have to pack it in. The advantages of the 2 powders, pure higher contrast, 4% better edge holding ability but still good contrast. I normally use 2-5% with a high carbon powder. This way I do not have to worry about soft spots in the blade. make sure the cable is as clean a possible, do a nice long soak at welding temp. Wait until you think the whole thing is up to temp then wait 20 minutes. This will insure good welds.

Good luck and have fun
 
I am worried about melting the container and making it part of the rest of the piece.
Any tips to avoid this?
Last time I forge welded (today) I melted off part of my blade (W2).
I started welding some cable and it was "dripping" when I removed it from the forge. I would have to say that it is safe to say that I had it pretty hot.

Anyadvice is greatly appreciated!
 
+1 for what Bill Said. Turn it down a notch. If you have a temp probe it would help. It needs to be around 2300f up to 2400. Above this and you are wasting gas. As far as welding the container to the cable, I allow for this in my larger billets. If you want to try wrapping the cable with SS foil it may or may not help. I have had SS foil weld itself to my billet inside the can. Just get the thinnest wall muffler pipe you can. Make sure it is not galvanized.

get it hot (not too hot) and forge ahead
 
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