How to: Forge welding?

If you can watch somebody do it, that helps a heckuva lot.
Your first inclination is going to be to look for local bladesmiths- don't limit yourself! See if you can find an association of artist blacksmiths, architectural blacksmiths, farriers... there are LOTS of experienced guys out there who love to show off in front of eager rookies. :)
 
What is a good source of mid-high carbon steel to practice forging/forge welding with?

Thanks for the help :D
 
Blue_Dragon said:
What is a good source of mid-high carbon steel to practice forging/forge welding with?

Thanks for the help :D
Click to expand...

Old automotive suspension springs are really good.
Very old leaf springs ma be "tired" with lots of micro-cracks in them though. But forge welding them into damascus should solve the problem...
If you get the springs of an almost new wrecked car you should be safe...
They are usually made of 5160 or 1050 steel (usually 5160).
Old files are really good, also. They are made of W-2. This is a hypereutectoid steel that could give problems with carbides if not heat treated properly.
I'm studying the problems myself, and Kevin Cashen has been great help in this.
Basically, you want to anneal it for working, but when you normalize it, DON'T let it cool in the forge.
Let it air cool or, best, quench it in oil.
This will refine the grain without letting undue large carbon inclusion between grain boundary whcih would make the blade excessively brittle.
 
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