[wulfgar]

Todays question! I bet you're all looking forward to what it is Ah but if you have read the title I'm quite sure you know. What I am asking today is what are the do's and don'ts of pounding steel at too cold a temperature? First I better start with my problem. I have been trying to draw out an old leaf spring from a truck to make a sword. The way i have been working it (and please correct me if I am going about it the wrong way) is laying it width up and pounding it into a more square shape instead of flat and rectangular (taking it from 2.5" wide to 1" wide). My forge doesn't seem to put out an excessive amount of heat so I've been working the metal at a bright red almost orange color. I put it back in the fire at a dull red. The problem that arose is the metal seperated. Am I pounding it too cold? Can steel be pounded cold and am I just using too much force? Any other criticism or advice is more then appreciated
Thanks in advance to all who respond.