[TheForge] Subject: Suggestions needed for scroungeablesteel

[Bruce Freeman]

It makes me wonder if Peter Ross was trying to do it with a hand hamer! 
No doubt he knows what he's talking about, but forge welds become a LOT
easier with a massive hammer.  The weld takes first try, no bouncing or
missing.  How massive a hammer depends upon how massive the piece being
welded.
 
Bruce
NJ

>>> osan@netlabs.net 11/19/2003 1:15:49 PM >>>



Bruce Freeman wrote:
> 
> Ken,
> 
> Case-hardened mild steel is not suitable for a hammer face.  The
depth
> of hard steel is to little (perhaps 1/16") and in some cases a hard
face
> on a soft base can be counterproductive.  Andy Vida tried this idea
(not
> case-hardened, but some commercially applied hardfacing) and the
> hardfacing shattered, IIRC.  Not good.

    That was on a hammer die.  The problem there was the face was
    only about 1/4" thick.  Should have been at least 1/2" or even
    3/4, but it was $$ enough at 1/4".  As you recall it was an
    experiment in potential materials for facing anvils.
> 
> By "facing" I meant the addition of a significant chunk of hard
steel.
> This would probably have to be welded on.  In principle it could be
> forge-welded on, but in practice that might be a bitch to do.

    I remember Peter Ross telling a crowd what a bitch it can be
    to forge weld a 1" square face onto a hammer head.  He said
    as you get larger the bitch-factor goes way up.  Gives some
    perspective on the skill of the smiths who used to weld the
    faces on to anvils... even small ones.

> Conceivably it could be attached in another way, say by loop and
wedge,
> like top tools on Spencer's TH, but that merely changes how the
welding
> has to be done.

    It could also be jump-welded, but I think you would have a
    time of finding someone with an apparatus capable of doing
    a weld that size.
> 
> Thanks for the Fazzio's contact info.  I hve visted them, but
they're
> too far away for frequent trips.  I just requested a quote.  However,
I
> suspect places like Fazzio's are not too common...

    Head down to Beacon in Freehold one night before dropping in
    on Marshal.  They may have what you seek.

    Oh, another possibility: machine the head and anvil to
    accept dies like a power hammer.  MOre involved, yes, 
    but opens up some interesting top and bottom tool 
    possibilities, especially if you have a quick change
    mount... but perhaps this is getting a bit afield of
    the intended simplicity behind the design.
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