Which Steels are the Easiest (and Most Difficult) to Forge?

[Larrin]

I wrote about the factors the control “forgeability” of steel. What temperature should you forge from? What makes some steels difficult to move under the hammer? What would cause steel to crack during forging? https://knifesteelnerds.com/2019/04/29/steel-forgeability/

 

[A.McPherson]

Hey Larrin,
Interesting article, thanks!
There was a comment on that article asking about forge welding and the temps required. Could you expand on that a bit?

 

[Larrin]

Hey Larrin,
Interesting article, thanks!
There was a comment on that article asking about forge welding and the temps required. Could you expand on that a bit?

Forge welding should be done from “forging temperature” and not the super high temperatures sometimes recommended. Let me know which part you want to discuss more.

 

[Justin Schmidt]

Hey Larrin,
Interesting article, thanks!
There was a comment on that article asking about forge welding and the temps required. Could you expand on that a bit?

I was the one that asked that. Always read 2100-2300 was "welding temps" but his article basically said the opposite

 

[Larrin]

I was the one that asked that. Always read 2100-2300 was "welding temps" but his article basically said the opposite

The article said no higher than 2100°F, so I suppose there is overlap there.

 

[Robert Erickson]

Thanks Larrin, another interesting read. I didn't see W2 mentioned by name. Would it be in with the 1095 group?

 

[Ken H>]

Thanks for the article - ALL your articles are good, but some are of special interest to me.

I understand 2200F to 2300F is best for making 416SS clad San Mia - Is this correct? If not, what would be the best temp for dry forge welding? What best temp for drawing out to shape?

 

[Larrin]

Thanks Larrin, another interesting read. I didn't see W2 mentioned by name. Would it be in with the 1095 group?

Yes, though the vanadium can make a difference in some cases.

 

[Larrin]

Thanks for the article - ALL your articles are good, but some are of special interest to me.

I understand 2200F to 2300F is best for making 416SS clad San Mia - Is this correct? If not, what would be the best temp for dry forge welding? What best temp for drawing out to shape?

Try it from a few different temperatures and report back.

 

[Justin Schmidt]

Another thing I found interesting is I've always heard 52100 is kind of stiff under the hammer. Which I'm guessing is from the chromium. But apparently its dissolved at forging temps. Also proves my theory that cru forge v is NOT that easy to forge. Now that stuff is STIFF

 

[Larrin]

Another thing I found interesting is I've always heard 52100 is kind of stiff under the hammer. Which I'm guessing is from the chromium. But apparently its dissolved at forging temps. Also proves my theory that cru forge v is NOT that easy to forge. Now that stuff is STIFF

Yes any extra "stiffness" of 52100 would be from chromium in solution not from chromium carbide.

 

[A.McPherson]

Forge welding should be done from “forging temperature” and not the super high temperatures sometimes recommended. Let me know which part you want to discuss more.

Hey Larrin, thanks for the response. I think I’ll start a thread so we don’t muddy the waters here.

 

[koduu]

Huge thanks for this article, had a question in the similar theme a while back. I can now understand a bit better some things I did not back then.