[TheForge] forging aluminum

[David E. Smucker]

Andy (G)

If you mean 3000 series (not 300) as garden variety then I would say yes it 
should behave well.  These are the wrought alloys and would include 
extrusions and sheet and plate.  First choice would be 3003, but you might 
also find 3005.  Bar, for example 1/2 x1/2 will be extrusion.

The 300 series as are all XXX series are casting alloys.  The 300 series is 
alloyed with large amounts of silicon and added copper and or magnesium. 
This high silicon makes the alloy very fluid when molten helping to fill 
castings.  I don't have a clue how these alloys would forge i.e. I have 
never worked with them.

Where is "locally" and who is the supplier?  Do they really mean 300 series 
is bars and shapes?

Dave Smucker
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gladish Family" <gladish at cnw.com>
To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, June 03, 2005 6:06 PM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] forging aluminum


> Does garden variety 300 series behave well? (that's what I can get 
> locally)
> Andy G
>
> Dave Smucker wrote:
>
>> 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
>
>
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