[TheForge] forging square tube

[Chris Worsley]

Andy -
What size are you thinking of?
DO NOT weld the ends shut, you'll just be making a bomb. Heat up a 
sealed steel item and where do you think the expanding internal 
atmosphere will go?   It will blow out where ever it finds the weakest 
point, and that may be in the fire, blowing it all over the place, or in 
your hand, blowing it all over the place....or just a hole through it.
I have tapered hollow square stock without any sand or filler in the 
tube. Sand just helps when making even bends as far as I know.
To keep the heat from rising towards the end I am holding, I stuff wet 
newspaper into the end, not sealing it tightly.
Chris
Alexandria VA

gladish wrote:

>Hi George
>Would you care to talk a bit about forging square "pipe" or tube?
>I would like to make some fairly massive corner posts for a bedframe, and
>since all I have is a 25# hammer, I'd better use tubing!
>You mentioned once that you had used fine sand to help hold the shape as
>it's forged- anything to look out for? I'm guessing that the ends of the
>tube should be welded shut- should I be leaving somewhere for the displaced
>sand to go? Any issues with the sand solidifying at forging temps? Maybe I
>shouldn't go too hot...
>I'd be grateful for any tips or advice that you'd care to offer.
>Thanks,
>Andy Gladish
>  
>