Forge Welding Tips
HINTS ON FORGE WELDING
By Dan Tull

• Firepot relatively free of clinkers, (they block air flow and give off oxides that inhibit welding.)





• A "deep" fire, this means enough coke under the piece to consume the oxygen.





• Set-up weld so that the lap and scarf can produce a good weld.





• The enemy of a good weld is scale. Scale is produced when oxygen hits orange hot metal. Turn down the air so that the oxygen is burned up before the air blast hits the metal flux pieces in the fire or flux at red heat.





• Flux is not an adhesive. Flux sparingly. Borax works fine.





• Pieces of the same carbon content need to be brought up to the same temperature, heat more than just the weld area so the cooler metal doesn't pull the heat out of the weld area.





• The inside of the piece needs to be at the welding temperature too, so let the pieces soak or come up to weld heat slowly. Look for the glassy surface or tackiness. Stars and sparks are above welding heat.





• As quickly as you can work, take the piece to the anvil and tap the weld together. Don't slam so hard as to knock them apart. Any subsequent forging needs to be at weld heat.

Be Confident!
Good Luck,
Dant