Question about trackhoe bearings?

Try letting it soak at just above critical temp for about 20 minutes, then try hammering it. A little trick I learned from a man who has been forging steel for industry for over 30 years.
Good Luck
 
Now about the 'soak"....
I hear lots of talk about allowing a blade to soak for a while, but how does a guy do this in a gas forge?

Ed, the bearing I have is getting close to the size of the Ball bearings seen in your video. Now if you were to soak one of them, would you just leave it in the forge with the forge running?

I have a gas forge that only has two settings, Full on with all 3 burners wide open........or off.

If I want to soak steel in such a forge, does that mean turning the forge off and on while watching the steel for color changes?
 
I added a valve for each burner that allows me to regulate each burner indiviudally. This gives me excellent control of the temperature of my forge. My Mankel forge also makes it possible to also regulate the air. Temperature control is one of the most significant variables that you can master. It takes practice but you can do it.

If there are any glass blowers around watch them work their propane heat, you will be watching a master at work.

While you are learning, a carbon monoxide detector in your shop is a good idea, it is a good idea to have one even for the experienced craftsman.

Practice learning how to regulate the temperature in your forge, I know you wish to get started making knives, but this is one of the most important talents you need to learn.

Folks will tell you that you can add carbon to a blade, you may be able to influence the carbon on the surface of the blade, but this is of no significant value to the finished blade. You can burn or over heat, this will ruin any future blade out of that steel.

Color is a significant indicator, but always keep a magnet handy to verify where you are.

It takes time to learn how to walk the 'thermal tightrope' that is mandatory for great knives, the investement is well worth the effort.

One rule, always have fun with it.
 
Alan,I dont know what kind of forge or burner's you have but maybe you can add a choke to your burners as well or in place of valves.I have only one burner in my forge and i put the "axial choke" on it A-LA Ron Reil.You can regulate air flow from full flow down to a completely rich flame (terminoligy ?)
http://ronreil.abana.org/design2.shtml#chokes
http://ronreil.abana.org/axchoke.jpg
I feel for you with the bearings, some of those thing's are reeeeeealy slow under the hammer.
 
Ok closeing down a few burners on my forge.,,,,thats yet another good topic i really have been thinking about over the last summer...

I own a WHISPER LowBoy 3-burner gas forge.
I would LOVE to learn is anone has come up with a way to close down 2 of the burners?
(I better start that topic!)
 
I'm not an expert, but there are stainless steel bearings. That might explain why they are so hard to forge. You can polish the surface and see if cold blue colors it or just wet it and leave it where it can rust. You might even try pouring some salt on it. If it doesn't rust, it's stainless.

I doubt that it is 4815 unless it's case hardened. 4815 has a low carbon content.

C 0.13-0.18
Mn 0.40-0.60
P 0.035 (max)
S 0.04 (max)
Si 0.15-0.30
Ni 3.25-3.75
Mo 0.20-0.30
 
The bearings rust, That I do know for sure.

Im sending out a bearing to be tested in the morning. Thats the only way to be sure of what i got.

Ever since I saw the "Bearing To Blade" video by Fowler I wanted to forge my own 52100 knife from the bearings I have here in my shop.
Given the supply I have right now, the amount of work each one proves to be, and the amount of steel each bearing works out to be, then "IF", (and thats a big 'if" ) if the roller bearings that I have turn out to be junk, then Im not out anything.

But if they turn out to be a knife making steel like 52100, THEN im all set with enough free, good steel for the rest of my life!
And thats kinda important ,

We shall see what the end of this story and topic brings next week my friends...
 
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