[TheForge] Forging Tungsten?

[Bob Ehrenberger]

Andy,
I'm not at all intrerested in jewelry. The closest thing to jewelry I have 
is the pocket watch I carry. It's a SS Timex case that I gutted when it died 
and installed a digital Casio wrist watch inside. I havewn't even worn my 
wedding band for more than 30 years, not safe around equipment.

When I get a piece of exotic metal I think tool.  I have never used tungsten 
and have no idea about it's properties other than it can get real hot before 
getting soft, which implies to me "hot work tool". But if it is too brital 
that may reduce it's usefullness. If I can't shape it with my blacksmith 
tools that may be a problem too.

I know that Uri Hoffi said that one of his tools had an edge made from a 
bomb fragment backed up by steel. I can't remember what the fragment was, 
maybe tungsten carbide.

Robert Ehrenberger
Shelbyville, Mo.
eforge at centurytel.net

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Andrew Vida" <osan at netlabs.net>
To: "Bob Ehrenberger" <eforge at centurytel.net>; "Blacksmithing List Sponsored 
by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, October 23, 2010 7:04 PM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Forging Tungston?




Bob Ehrenberger wrote:
> I wanted to know about forging them because they aren't very useful the 
> way
> they are.  Making tools via grinding doesn't sound like much fun, and is a
> bit limiting.

Shoot, don't waste good tungsten on tools.  Make jewelry of it.  Have
you seen what WC rings are going for anymore?  They were dirt cheap when
they first came on the market - maybe $75.  Now I see them for $500.  I
guess they became popular.