Blacksmithing and forging

[VaughnT]

Some brass rivets would look very nice against the dark iron. I just picked up a few dozen brass screws at the hardware store when I was getting my tank re-certified and filled. Cost me better than a hundred for that visit! :O

The paperwork that came with my not-so-Majestic forge stated that forge-welding was only possible above 25psi on the gas. Obviously, I never cranked the think up to that kind of pressure just to play with welding, but it might give you a target to shoot for.

Another idea might be to braze the joint. That'd go real nice with the brass rivets and kind of give it something of that Japanese aesthetic.

[shortfuse]

I let material soak up as much heat as possible for about 10 minutes. Maybe I needed to wait longer. This was my first attempt ever at forge welding.

psa, for material that thin, I believe you let it soak too long. Bring it up to red/orange, apply borax, then get it to welding heat before the borax boils away. That probably created more oxides than the borax could handle as well as possibly decarbonizing the steel somewhat. Check out some forge welding videos on YT by Black Bear Forge (John Switzer) and Technicus Joe (Joey van der Steeg) as well as iforgeiron.com to help you with forge welding. Happy forging!

[psacustomcreations]

psa, for material that thin, I believe you let it soak too long. Bring it up to red/orange, apply borax, then get it to welding heat before the borax boils away. That probably created more oxides than the borax could handle as well as possibly decarbonizing the steel somewhat. Check out some forge welding videos on YT by Black Bear Forge (John Switzer) and Technicus Joe (Joey van der Steeg) as well as iforgeiron.com to help you with forge welding. Happy forging!

My understanding is that forge welding temp is when the material is beyond orange and closer to yellow/white. If I am wrong, let me know.

If I am right, then it seems the best way to do what you are describing, is that the transition between application of borax and welding heat needs to be quick.

On a semi-related note, I need the correct tongs to hold the material. I just had a set of wolf jaw tongs and some made to hold 5/8 rr spikes. Having the correct tongs was one of the demonstration points.

I will definitely check out more videos.
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[shortfuse]

My understanding is that forge welding temp is when the material is beyond orange and closer to yellow/white. If I am wrong, let me know.

If I am right, then it seems the best way to do what you are describing, is that the transition between application of borax and welding heat needs to be quick.

You are right on both counts. Borax, and any flux, will boil away and become ineffective if left on too long coming up to welding temp. When coming up to welding heat with propane, it may take longer than coal/coke depending on how "powerful" your gas forge is. That is, generally speaking for mild steel. Tool steel and any high carbon steel needs to be treated differently. Just get some 1/4" thick x 1/2" to 1" wide scrap pieces and practice faggot welding several times with those until you get the process down pat. Thin stock will burn very quickly when coming up to welding temp, BTW.

[psacustomcreations]

Here is the cross. I cheated and drilled through one part of the back side then tig plug welded before I finished shaping the ring.
I used some pieces of 1/8" silicon bronze tig rods as the pins. The pics show the front versus back side.
It has been wire wheel brushed but no finish applied yet. I will most likely use spray on clear. It is a gift to my brother.










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[Lis2323]

The cross turned out awesome.

Probably only a purist would call drilling that hole cheating .
My opinion is a craftsman uses whatever method or tools at his disposal to best create a project.

[VaughnT]

Very nice work, Pat!

That's gotta be a tricky thing to weave together.

[psacustomcreations]

Very nice work, Pat!

That's gotta be a tricky thing to weave together.

Thanks.
I am already thinking of a few variations.

Were you able to knock out all your hooks or orders?

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[VaughnT]

Spent $100 today.

Finally found a shop that's reasonably close and will cut my steel for me. 120 pieces of 1/4"x1/2"x6", or 3 bars 20' long, cost me just over $100. That's less than a dollar per piece when you factor everything in, and something I can tack on to the cost of the hooks I make with them.

The downside is that it was really depressing to see a tiny little plastic tote carrying all that steel. It wasn't even the size of a shoe box!

Of course, now I have a bunch of blanks that I can turn into hooks -- just grab n go -- and that makes me happy. I really hate trying to bundle up a couple sticks and work them through my bandsaw!

[Lis2323]

The downside is that it was really depressing to see a tiny little plastic tote carrying all that steel. It wasn't even the size of a shoe box!
!

You should be looking in awe at how much profit margin you will be making from the little plastic tote.

[VaughnT]

You should be looking in awe at how much profit margin you will be making from the little plastic tote.

I'm trying really hard to remember that!

$100 at my normal steel supplier would have netted me a gob of metal, so seeing this tiny little tote was rather, um, anticlimactic.

Still, it'll go on the shelves with the railroad spikes and big nails. Every time I need to make one of these hooks, I can just grab what I need and chuck it into the forge! It's going to be real nice over the next couple of days as I try to catch up on the backlog of orders!



Of course, now I have to figure out how many orders I have to place with them before I spend as much as a small hydraulic shear would cost me....

[Lis2323]

Luke, one of the tenants in my maintenance yard is always giving me “goodies” left over from his commercial tenant improvement gigs.

I was happy to be able to return the favor today by whipping up a pair of wedges that were MIA from his dad’s post leg vise.

[Lis2323]

He just sent me a pic of it mounted on a stump.




It’s only a little 4” wide jaw/ 60 odd pounds but it looks impressive in the photo.

[Lis2323]

Yesterday I spotted an ad: “WTB propane forge” so I replied with a pic of mine ....



This morning I pulled it outta the shop....



and it’s GONE!

I won’t disclose what I sold it for as no point in fueling all you haters out there. LOL.

[ronsii]

LOL!!!!


I hate you

[VaughnT]

Wow! She was such a beautiful forge, too. Hate to see her go, and I can only hope and pray that you'll take this as motivation to build another one even bigger and better!

Lets have a moment of silence for the dearly departed.....

[whtbaron]

You're scaring us with all this "selling tools" talk... I never thought that was an option. You must be making room for something really big...

[VaughnT]

You're scaring us ...

You don't think that maybe he's gonna start wearing those skinny jeans, do you? Can we mobilize some kind of intervention in time to stop his descent into madness? :0

[ronsii]

You don't think that maybe he's gonna start wearing those skinny jeans, do you? Can we mobilize some kind of intervention in time to stop his descent into madness? :0

Google says I can be there in 4 hours and 16 minutes and 38 seconds!!! but I think you guys are going to take a bit longer....

[Lis2323]

Google says I can be there in 4 hours and 16 minutes and 38 seconds!!! but I think you guys are going to take a bit longer....

Better not count on whtbaron. Making the trek out West and taking his Lincoln Idealarc back with him may appear a bit hypocritical.

[whtbaron]

Yea, I was thinking about that. Google says I will need 25 hrs to go 2,400 km. Google has never traveled with my wife....

[DavidR8]

Let me know if you think @lis2323 needs an intervention. I know where he lives


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[ronsii]

Let me know if you think @lis2323 needs an intervention. I know where he lives


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You and me both

[Lis2323]

You and me both

Sid’s staying. Says he likes the laid back style of my shop better.

[ronsii]

Sid’s staying. Says he likes the laid back style of my shop better.

Geeeezzzz!!!! I give my helper a little time off to do a few things and he gets snagged by someone else!!!!!