[TheForge] Welding SS

Thu Sep 11 21:16:00 2003

Seems to me that SS is next to imposible to torch weld, it builds up a thick
layer of really tough fire scale, your constantly digging through it and
pushing it away w/ the filler rod.  Maybe borax isn't adequite to take care
of this scale.
Randy Mundt
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dan Tull" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2003 1:04 PM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Welding SS


> Most SS can be forge welded but not folded.
> Something contaminates the SS after the first weld. You are not the first
> that had the weld come apart, look see if it is at the SS.
>
> dan tull
> georgia
> abba, afc, S.C. psba, obg,sofa
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jerry Frost" <[email protected]>
> To: <[email protected]>
> Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2003 2:11 PM
> Subject: [TheForge] Welding SS
>
>
> > Last weekend I tried forge welding some SS and mild steel for a damascus
> > forge shovel. (Yes, I'm definately suffering shovel envy after George
> posted
> > the pics of his fire tool set. <sigh>) The SS is 5/16" thick, I
sandwiched
> > it between 1/4" mild steel. I cleaned the contact faces on the belt
sander
> > and migged the billet on the corners. I heated it till the flux just
> melted
> > then fluxed it. Then I brought it slowly to red and refluxed then
brought
> it
> > to welding heat with plenty of soak time. Well, after three repeats to
> > refine the "weld" I was able to work it on the edges and decided it was
> time
> > for the first fold.
> >
> > Anyway, it was a complete failure, total delamination on cutting for the
> > first fold. I used a mixture of 4 pts borax to 1 pt. boric acid for the
> > flux. I'm going to see if I can find sal amoniac when I run into
Anchorage
> > today. Still, I expected SOME weld and didn't get it.
> >
> > I'm wondering if the type of SS makes a difference. I used some 304 SS
> from
> > the shop scrap bin. Should I use something different? This is going to
be
> a
> > shovel blade and so has no structural nor edge holding requirements. I'd
> > just like to make something a little flashy while I experiment with SS.
> >
> > Frosty
> > ------------------------
> > If it ain't forged
> > it ain't real.
> > Wrought iron is.
> > The FrostWorks
> >
> > Meadow Lakes, AK.
> >
> >
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