Welding on a blade?

M

Maaso

Joined
Jan 29, 2011
Messages
19
I was just curious if it would hurt anything to weld two plates of steel together to create a wider/longer blade?

I have a mean welder, so I know it will penetrate all the way through. But my main concern is if the heat would hurt anything when it comes time for HT?
 
what steel are you using?

it is obvious that you are not talking forge weld so there is a whole can-o-wurms you are thinking about ripping open, but I am curious what you are using, what you are planning, and what you know

-Page
 
look up "heat affected zone" and you can kinda figure out whats gonna happen :) id look to do it with less heat and make 2 passes with a root grind on the back side..that'd be the strongest butt weld, you have to bevel each piece too btw
 
Thinking it would be pretty unlikely to find a rod with identical composition to the blade steel...
 
sunshadow said:
...but I am curious what you are using, what you are planning...
Click to expand...

I'm making a video game replica knife for a buddy of mine. For the knife to scale 1:1 right, I'll need a piece of steel that is .250 x 15" x 2" and nobody sells steel that is close to these specs. Everything I'm finding is either too short, or way too long and WAY out of budget. So I was going to try two 12" pieces welded together and keep the weld joint hidden under the handle scales.
 
You should be able to order steel in close to that size from several of the knife supply houses.

You talking about making it from mild steel? Just as a replica? For use, do not, reapeat, do not under any shape form or fashion use an arc welder to weld the blade together.

It is theroticly posible to weld with say a mig or heliarc high carbon steel, eigther simple or stainless, with wire or strips of the same metal as the blade. But without a LOT of thermal cycling after welding there will be line across the blade of very large grain. Also most large blades benifit from straight grain of forgeing, or at least mill rolling, your weld will interupt that flow. Any functional blade of 10" or so, judging by your size requirements, will need to be able to withstand impacts, an arc weld will be a bad weak spot.

Now if your talking a wall hanger, IE show piece and mild steel the skys the limit. Mild steel won't harden and a proper weld, full penitration and ground smooth to where you can't tell it's been welded will be as strong as the rest of the blade, though I'd still heat it up and normalize at least once for stress relief.

Hope this helps
 
Nearly every steel supplier I know of will sell you a 1/4 X2 X18" piece of steel. Home Depot and Lowe's have it in mild steel and all the knife suppliers have it in blade steel.
 
Here is some that is $10. $10 to ship, too but if you are going to use this for anything, it is probably worth it.
 
I was able to find it in a few of the links posted in the supplies sticky, but as I mentioned somewhere above; it was out of my price range.

Rannalf, that you for posting that link for me. That companies link in the sticky doesn't work so I wasn't able to look there. Thank you again.
 
You could probably get some small (1/8" or 1/16") dia tool steel (W1 or W2) rod stock, with your forge draw it out into a smaller rod (1/32" or less) and then TIG weld the blade together. Forget about heat treating until after the welding is done.

MIG might be possible by highly doubtful you're going to find any high-carbon filler wire. TIG with custom filler rods would be best.
 
No need for welding now Jdn, I ordered the steel from the link Rannalf provided.

The plan though was to TIG it with 9018-M rod, it has a high carbon content according to out Airgas/welding supplier.
 
if you're making show pieces, not use blades, check out the Yard Store in Wichita -- LOTS of steel and titanium sold at scrap prices. (if it's remotely close to you)
Spring and brake shops will also sell steel cut to order in 1065, 4140, and 5160.
 
I've been to The Yard a few times, only ~30 minutes East of me.

The people who work there treat me like shit every time I go. I don't know if it's because I'm a "kid" or I have a thick accent and they can't understand me.
 
slightly off topic but maybe you guys can help me, i need a site that sells blade steels in higher widths than the usual the knife I’m planning of making and or having made is about 3.5 inches total width its also about 24 inches long oh and id prefer a thickness of at least 1/4 inch (yes this thing sounds like a monster and it will be aha) any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks Anthony
 
Maaso said:
I've been to The Yard a few times, only ~30 minutes East of me.

The people who work there treat me like shit every time I go. I don't know if it's because I'm a "kid" or I have a thick accent and they can't understand me.
Click to expand...
it's not just you -- I generally do my best to ignore the staff until I get to the checkout.
you might also try Wichita spring and axle, tell them what thickness, length, and width you need and see what they charge -- it'll cost a bit more, but you'll know what you're getting.
 
AntCaps said:
slightly off topic but maybe you guys can help me, i need a site that sells blade steels in higher widths than the usual the knife I’m planning of making and or having made is about 3.5 inches total width its also about 24 inches long oh and id prefer a thickness of at least 1/4 inch (yes this thing sounds like a monster and it will be aha) any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks Anthony
Click to expand...

depends what alloy you want, send me a message I can tell you where I get some of my stuff
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top