[TheForge] forging aluminum

[Dave Smucker]

Bruce,  Not all aluminum will "crumble" in other words go "hot short" it is 
very dependent on the alloy.  The aerospace alloys 2XXX and 7XXX do this big 
time but those alloys with lower alloy content do not -- 1100 -- which for 
all practical purposes is pure aluminum can be forged or rolled right up to 
the melting point.  I say this having watched millions and millions of 
pounds of aluminum being hot rolled.  I have even seen 5182 hot rolled in 
the reversing mill and go liquid at or near the center line from the energy 
added in rolling and still make it off the end of the hot line without 
failure.  Other alloys can break up in the hot reversing mill if they get 
too hot.  5182 for the record is the stuff in the top of a aluminum can.  
3004 is the alloy in the body.

I recommend 3003 for our kind of forging.  Other alloys will work too.  The 
pine stick temperature test works well.

Dave Smucker

>From: "Bruce Freeman" <FREEMAB at pt.fdah.com>
>Reply-To: Sponsored by ABANA <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
>To: <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
>Subject: Re: [TheForge] forging aluminum
>Date: Fri, 03 Jun 2005 14:18:43 -0400
>
>I have a tiny bit of experience forging aluminum.
>
>First of all, aluminum, like most non-ferous metals, can be forged cold, 
>providing it is annealed when it begins to work-harden.  It can also be 
>forged hot, in which case a separate annealing process is not necessary.
>
>Like the copper-based metals, aluminum conducts heat a LOT better than 
>steel, so you'll need tongs to hold it when hot - even when working a long 
>piece.
>
>When annealing, or when forging hot never get it above the temperature at 
>which a stick of wood will write on the shiny alumnum exactly as if it were 
>a black crayon.  Above this temp., it will crumble.
>
>Hope this helps.
>
>Bruce
>NJ
>
> >>> gladish at cnw.com 6/3/2005 11:29:19 AM >>>
>Hi, everybody.
>Has any of you got experience forging aluminum, or know of a good book
>or resource on same?
>I want to build a decorative screen for a garden, and aluminum would be
>the best choice for the location, but can't seem to find anything in my
>library about forging it. Is it done cold and annealed, or do you use a
>low heat in the forge?
>In the dark here...
>Thanks!
>Andy G.
>
>
>--
>Andy Gladish, Metalwork
>7141 Guemes Island Rd.
>Anacortes, WA 98221
>Element Forge  www.elementfe.com
>mailto: andy at elementfe.com
>
>I never saw an ugly thing in my life: for let the form of an object be what
>it may, -- light, shade, and perspective will always make it beautiful.
>-John Constable, painter (1776-1837)
>
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