[TheForge] Forge welding

[Stephen Viola]

Lynn I find that if I sanded the the metal down to remove any oxide helps.
I then heat it to a cherry red and add flux to prevent any more
oxidization occurring.
Once it get to a white heat and the surface seems slightly molten I
remove it from the forge and quickly and precisely strike 3 times. The
first "thunk" is directly pressing the 2 pieces of steel together,
taking care not to squeeze all the molten steel out from between the
two pieces... the second and third strikes are diagonal on the corners
NOT the sides of the two pieces... by this time the heat has reduced
to a bright yellow and you can strike it with more vigour. One tip I
was given was that heat welding is more successful when welded twice.

OH and when removing your steel from the heat source.. move it quickly
to the anvil for striking and don't dilly dally.

I should mention I also use coke although I have a 30 cm square fire pot.

Stephen

On 05/03/07, Ben Barrett <stircrazyben at gmail.com> wrote:
> What do you guys think about wearing IR glasses to more-closely
> observe the weld?
>
> I've only been smithing ~14months, and just fired up my own [propane]
> forge the other
> night, and was really surprised as I looked into it, how blinded I was
> to the actual location
> and presence of heat... maybe my shop lights are a funny spectrum, but
> I couldn't even
> see how red the metal was getting without the goggles...
> so I know these (IR3 in my case, also IR5) glasses/goggles are
> most-often used for
> oxy/acet torch work, but I was wondering what y'all think of using
> them in relation to
> forge work?
> Seems like this would be even more crucial (both for functional
> viewing and for eye protection)
> when closely examining pieces for forge welding, when you're getting
> the metal about as hot
> as it can stand to be.
>
> The difference is even more evident when I look through a digital
> camera -- the IR totally
> washes out the digicam itself, but pictures taken through the IR#3
> lens look much more
> like what I *want* to see :)
>
> thanks,
>
> ben
>
>
> On 3/4/07, Saint Phlip <phlip at 99main.com> wrote:
> > Well, got to thinking- not sure how your ears are, but there's a sound
> > that will help too. You know how when your metal cools as you're
> > working, and the thumps get sorta tinkly and clangy? Well, if you make
> > a good strike welding, it sounds more thuddy than when you're working
> > at the usual heats. I think if you get it, and you're paying
> > attention, you notice.
> >
> > On 3/4/07, Lynn and Susan Lang <langfarm at together.net> wrote:
> > > I am using coke, a 9" round pot with a cave and the metal above the
> > > height of the pot, "deep fire". Clinkers have been removed. I am doing
> > > better after watching Blacksmith Journal tape 2 , basket handle and the
> > > channel scroll demonstration....
> > >
> > > Practice and more practice.......
> > >
> > > Thanks to all
> > > lynn
> >
> >
> > --
> > Saint Phlip
> >
> > Heat it up
> > Hit it hard
> > Repent as necessary.
> >
> > Priorities:
> >
> > It's the smith who makes the tools, not the tools which make the smith.
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