[TheForge] Welding SS

Fri Sep 12 13:43:03 2003

I kept the flux recipes but finding chemicals off the shelf around here can
be problematical. I was going to look yesterday when I ran into Anchorage
but ran out of time.

I built a new coal forge a couple weeks ago, after confirming I can still
get to the coal seam and had to severely restrict the blower and air grate.
At full tilt you can't stand within 6' of the forge, well, not for long
anyway. <grin> Even after blocking the motor side intake and 3/4 of the
other side I had to plug (dropped rivets in the holes so I can open it up as
needed) all but five of the 3/8" holes in the air grate to make a
controlable fire. Darned thing will still melt a 3/4" bar in under a minute
if I let it. <grin>

When I made the attempt last time the mild steel was liquid and I'd soaked
it till the billet was a consistant color throughout. If I'd gotten it any
hotter I'd a been picking it out of the air grate.

I think I'll call around and see if I can find nickle foil, if not I think
I'll give Mike's Canadian coins a try.

Frosty
------------------------
If it ain't forged
it ain't real.
Wrought iron is.
The FrostWorks

Meadow Lakes, AK.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Chuck Robinson" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, September 12, 2003 6:31 AM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Welding SS

> Hey Jerry,
> Remember the discussions about  adding fluorspar to the borax, boric acid,
> sal ammoniac flux?
> The fluorspar is about the most reactive flux available.
> If it doesn't remove the chromium oxides nothing will.
> You also have to weld at a much higher temperature than you are probably
> used to.
> Cleston Sinyard is the pioneer in welding stainless, and it stumped him
> until he built El Nemo forge.
> That baby is so hot it vaporizes the clinker, and will give you a sun burn
> standing about 30 feet away from it.
> The easiest contrasting metal to add is Nickel foil; a little goes a long
> way.
> After folding the billet to about 80 layers, forge the billet to square,
> octagon then round.
> Twist it several turns then fold it again, weld, and forge into the  shape
> you want.
> Very dramatic twisted contrasting layers.
> Chuck
>
>
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