[TheForge] corten, scrap prices

[Steve howell]

I use a lot of 'corten' or ASTM A 588 at the day gig and have been hand and power forging it for several years. Technically it's a 'low alloy high strength' steel. It's also 4 to 6 times more corrosion resistant than mild steel (barring marine or chemical environments) It's tensile strength is close to 70 ksi vs 60 for mild steel. That said, it forges nicely but is definitely stiffer and work hardens unbelievably into the black range. I use it a lot for tongs and love it. The secret ingredients are a touch of nickel but mainly copper. Once I had a piece of it overheat in the gas forge and it looked like it had a rainbow dancing on it. Kinda' like a piece of non-ferrous. Anyway- took it out of the fire, struck some blows to it and it almost fell apart. I let it cool and upon inspection it had a very micro-cracked look to it Hot short, perhaps?. I can only assume the copper had burned out of it . On that note I have heard that you cannot forge weld it although it does take to 7018 and 8018 just fine.

re; scrap prices-

Our shop too, was ripped off a couple of years ago when brass and copper were pushing 4$/lb. Personally I'm glad to see commodities coming back to earth. 


Steve Howell
ballardforge.com
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