I was burnt by scale, have you ever been

[Hoary]

I think jack hammer bits are made of carbide... I believe that's a manufactured metal and I know that there's alot other manufacted metals, but I had my doubts if that could be forged. But, my doubts are only based on my inexperince, soo.. if it can be done let me know and I'll get into some bits of my own. :-p

[ThomasPowers]

Most jackhammer bits are made from a medium carbon steel. Now being a good sized piece of metal and needing to be kinda warm to make forging it easier it's possible that they are spending more time in the forge and holding more heat when they come out? Both will lead to more scaling.

[keeplokd]

I didn't mean no foul. As Frosty said - you just get used to it.

And any new smith might take Quenchcrack's advise to heart. Its one I was taught. Leave a wire brush next to your forge and give your work a quick brush if you see mucho scale aboard. You don't want that stuff to burn you or pattern your work... or maybe you do..

Bill

[RegionalChaos]

I think the our kids at home were interested in forging with me until they asked about burns. They asked if I get burned and I told they yes, but it usually isn't so bad, because it is hot enough to cauterize it right away. It just stings for a few seconds then goes away (at least the ones that aren't that bad..). After sharing that with them, they haven't followed me out to the forge since..

Scale usually cauterizes, so I don't mind it that much at all, usually just a mild nuisance maybe. One time I did try to pick up a black hot piece of rebar though. Now that one hurt, and I had the lines from a piece of rebar across my palm for a good two weeks...

[NateDJ]

While using the wrong tongs (was the only ones I had at the time) I had a piece of leaf material that was bright red glance off my forearm and it burned through at least 2 layers of skin, still have the scar (and several pair of new tongs) 2 months later. That one hurt bad enough to go run water on it for a few min!

[franga dragos]

Hi everybody, i am new here, as i am into blacksmithing, but already i have many things to tell about burning my hide.
This spring while forging i forgot to wear my eye protection ( actually i was just lazy ) and a flying scale landed on my eye, i could feel it cooling in my tear.
Fortunately it was a small piece and not very hot but I cannot forget the feeling of a hot thing cooling on the surface of my eye ball.
Sice then I always wear eye protection when forging ( hope i never forget to ).
And off course there are those times when you start dancing suddenly because your feet are on fire, you all know them don't you ?

[larrynjr]

It's been a few weeks since I've had the joy of burning scale but tonight I just spent about 2 hours finishing a pair of scroll tongs and a few other small projects. I got 3 scale burns on my right index finger and one on my middle finger. Ahhhhhhhhhh, the memories

[coltpax]

I kind of wish I could have got my funny dance on video. Dropped a piece of red hot 3/16 by 2 in. metal in my shoe. Of course, I was being lazy that day and decided sneakers and shorts would be fine. Got a real nice, pretty scar on my left foot now. Its a nice shade of pink. But yea, you sort of grow immune to scale burns. I wonder if you could do a scale "vaccination" or something by getting alot of scale burns on your first or second day blacksmithing? I think they should start a new section in the photo gallery called "Blacksmithing Scars".

[evfreek]

I don't get too many scale burns. In fact, I don't remember any. I just got through with a week long demo, and only burned myself once. Tong handles got a bit warm. Not really hot enough to sizzle water or make my skin red, but enough to make me go: "wow, that's a little too hot!" A glove on the tong hand helps a lot. Also, wire brushing *away* from you. Also, keeping your hands away from the twist. Finally, don't put silica sand in your forge welding flux. The borax and boric acid sparks are much mellower. I have one nasty scar on my tong hand caused by not knowing how to control a coke fire. It turned to vesuvius and sprayed a whole bunch of people with molten clinker. Somehow, coal does not do that. The other scale burn-like scars were caused by grinder sparks. I had a nasty allergic reaction to the binder in an old wheel that I bought at a garage sale. Got real sick. These scars never heal, and they reopen whenever I eat overripe fruit or get a pollen allergy. Kind of like permanent hives. Now, I only use name brand wheels that I buy new. Another reason not to cut corners on the grinding wheels. Also, just in case, I wear a welding glove with a long cuff anytime there is a chance that grinding sparks will hit me. BTW, grinder sparks are much more risky for starting fires than flying scale.

[millwright]

The good news about scale is, it only burns untill your skin cools it off. One or two swipes with a thick bristle butcher block will nock all but the most stubbron scale off.



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