[TheForge] Forge Welding Chainsaw Chain

[Andrew Vida]

One way to go is to wire up the chain except for the area to weld.  Once 
you stick that part, strip away the wire for another section and weld 
it. Work your way to the other end.  Also, a hydraulic press is really 
good for this sort of work.  A lot better than a hammer because you have 
greater control in sticking the weld.

Another thing you can do is stack the chain several layers deep.  The 
voids will fill more quickly.  Some guys put the chain into a retort, 
which gives great control, but then you have to grind the retort away... 
well you don't have to.  If you use retort method, be sure to clean and 
thoroughly degrease the chain before enclosing it.

On a similar note, ball bearings make a fabulous pattern.  Zip 'em up in 
a retort and weld.  If you use a press, you can get a gorgeous honeycomb 
pattern.  I learned this from a guy named Rietveld from South Africa. 
His work was/is very nice.  He also had a really cool recuperative gas 
forge.  The intake manifold glowed bright orange.

John Husvar wrote:
> 
> On Tuesday, January 4, 2005, at 09:23 AM, Phil wrote:
> 
>> Do you have any suggestions for the cut lengths?
>>
>> How do you suggest cutting it?
> 
> 
> Hmmm. Last one I did -- and sold (stupidly) -- I just folded up the 
> chain to about 4 or so inches length, wired it with iron mechanic's wire 
> and welded it in the forge. I took many heats, used lots of 20 Mule 
> Team, and went relatively slowly. Closed it up in the thin dimension 
> first and worked it into about a 1/4 X 6 billet through 2-3 folds, rough 
> forged a knife shape and then ground it and etched. Made a really nice 
> small skinner.
> 
> Looked like a randomized mosaic pattern because the teeth made brighter 
> lines and spots in the metal.
> 
> I don't know exactly what steels are in those things, but normalizing, 
> then a water quench and 400 degree draw turned out pretty good.
> 
> The best thing about the thing was asking people what they thought it 
> had been in its previous life. :)
> 
> 
>>
>> Thanks
>> --- "Mark A. Pesetsky" <pesetsky at Princeton.EDU> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I have an arc welder, and a TIG welder.
>>>
>>> Phil
>>>
>>>
>>> Cut the chain into equal
>>> lengths...stack...weld...heat...flux...BEAT....draw
>>> out and fold as much as you like...twist...whatever.
>>> The main thn is the
>>> initial heat/removal of the dirt and such. Once that
>>> has burned off, bring
>>> it out of the forge, wire brush and then use 20 TEAM
>>> MULE borax on it. Back
>>> into the fire until the borax becomes liquid. Bring
>>> it out and get the weld
>>> that way. After that it is a matter of drawing
>>> out/twisting if you like. If
>>> a twist or multiple layers is what you are after,
>>> repeat the wire brush/flux
>>> process as needed...
>>>
>>> Good Luck/Post Pics of Progress...
>>>
>>> Mark
>>>
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>>
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