Stainless pattern steel

D

Doc Hollywood

Joined
Jan 24, 2003
Messages
341
I keep reading about guys who swear that they cannot forge a pattern welded blade out of stainless, but yet I see the stuff available from the suppliers. I have read where no one has found a "magical flux" that would work to forge weld stainless.

Has anyone tried welders stainless flux?? The stuff is available, and should work for the purpose shouldn't it? I am interested in trying this and hearing what others have found trying to make stainless weld...

Doc
 
Stainless pattern-welded steel is more difficult to produce for two major reasons. The first being that temperture and time are critical, and must be held to parameters tighter and usually hotter than hicarb steels. Excessive heat can also lead to failure. Depending on the alloys being used. The next problem is keeping oxygen out of the mix, usually accomplished by welding in a can. This dry weld usually requires Argon to displace O2.
 
a beehive in a coal forge? The oxygen gets burned out, and the heat reflected back into the steel so you can actually get hot enough to weld with just charcoal.....

I know this sounds like alot of arguments, but I can't believe that no one has found a way to do it in a forge. I would think someone has been persistent enough to make it happen at some point with some kind of favorable results. it would seem to me that borax would work for a flux since that is its main purpose in the forge is to sheild the material from oxygen and float out the trash.

I am hardheaded, and should have been from Missouri. Someone is going to have to prove to me that it cannot be done before I believe it. I may have to pound on a few lengths of stainless cable I have to believe it myself........hmmmmmmm.

Doc
 
Hi Doc,Yes it can be done, forging and forge welding stainless. Devin Thomas,and others sell the product commercially. I've used 304, 316, in San Mai and Mosaic. Problems arise in heat treat, if materials are not heat treated similarly. Stainless tends to be red hard and not move at the same rate as low alloy steels, this can cause problems.
 
I would be most interested in discussing this with you offline or over the phone. I would like to hear what you have found works if you are willing to discuss any of it.

I can be reached here, or at dns@knology.net, and would be very interested in contacting you by phone.

Thanks Ed.....

Doc
 
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