triw Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 Hey Damascus Mike you do not need to melt steel to make cable damacus. the way I learned is: Step one - weld or tie the ends of the cable so the strands will not unravel, weld to a rod for a handle. Step two - heat to red hot and add flux (I use borax) return to forge and when it is at a welding heat twist the cable tighter. Step three - return to forge and when at welding heat weld the cable into a bar by hitting firm but not overly hard. You want to weld the strands togeather not flatten it. When the cable is solid you have a billet to forge into your knife blade, you might need more than one welding heat to do this. Any comments for the other cable welders? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damascus Mike Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 i dont know if my forge can get to that heat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintjohnbarleycorn Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 If you can't get to that heat, you can't do it. So your first quest is to get the forge together that you need. Maybe you are putting the cart before the horse. Once you have the billet you will need to work it and if you are making damascus you will need to forge weld it more than just once. So you will also need hammer skills. I am not sure how much experience you have, but if you don't have a lot start with something a little easier. Make some knives from different types of steel, look in on the knife making forum on this site. You will have a lot of fun working your way up to a cable knife. enjoy, kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damascus Mike Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 well today i just finished my forge and i just need to put a cap on the bottom of the ash chamber and then im totally done but aparently the way ive made it, it can melt metal easily.i just need a recipe` for making fire cement or somthing to put a layer on the bottom of the truck rim to stop it from burning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finnr Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Smear it full of plain river clay if you think you need something. This forge was used for five years with no coating of any kind. It is made from the center of a farm wagon wheel. Finnr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damascus Mike Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 can you make demascus or forge weld on this forge?i dont know where to get clay but my friend knows a recipe` for fire cement i think its lime cement and water not to sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damascus Mike Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 (edited) my forge is similar to this one but my blower and the forge r 2 seperate units.ill put pics on once its totally finished and lit. Edited April 6, 2009 by Damascus Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finnr Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 I learned to do all my basic smithing in this forge. My first billets came out of it. Finnr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweany Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Forge Welding Cable Damascus & Striped Cable Damascus 2 Disc Set - Nickel Twist - Work smarter, not harder Get Gene's video This man has welded 20ft sections of cable ina forge. Goodman I highly recomend it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damascus Mike Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 (edited) oh ok i see now.but my bigest problem is flux.im in new zealand and there isnt anything in the laundry area called 20 mule team borax Edited April 7, 2009 by Damascus Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damascus Mike Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 is it possible to forge weld using wood as a fuel instead of coal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new guy Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 yes but get a blower. i need one to heat up wood to get steel red hot. so i assume you need one for welding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob JS Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 There is a video on youtube, probably by purgatory ironworks, that explains using wood as fuel - basically you build you fire with lots of small pieces so that it turns to charcoal in the forge. Yes you can forge weld with charcoal - it is the traditional forge fuel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatamax Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 dont know where you are in New Zealand but I just got this from google Bryant Farrier Limited - farrier supplies for the New Zealand farrier and blacksmith they sell flux just google blacksmith or farrier supplies. You can forge weld mild steel without flux for practice get used to getting it to the right temp then getting two pieces to stick together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 yes but get a blower. i need one to heat up wood to get steel red hot. so i assume you need one for welding. the problem is New guy, that red hot is not hot enough to weld,or even work some steels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Wood Fire Forging isn't! What you are doing is forging with charcoal and making it on the spot. Unfortunately you are not making it very efficiently and you get all the joys of both heat and smoke of the fire on you. If you get a deep enough pile of charcoal you can weld with it; period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 I'm sure that somewhere in New Zealand there is borax or a blacksmith association that can help you out in finding some or an alternative to it as a welding flux. It does not have to be 20 Mule Team brand borax for it to work as a flux. Try getting to a welding supply house and see if they have a can of brazing flux and try that if you can't find any thing else to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 oh ok i see now.but my bigest problem is flux.im in new zealand and there isnt anything in the laundry area called 20 mule team borax Failing all else look around for potters. Anhydrous borax is one of the many ingredients used in making glazes. They can point you in a direction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damascus Mike Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 cool because i thought to myself ive finaly made a working forge but i cant get fuel anywhere but from trees Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattBower Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 The vast majority of blacksmithing through the ages used trees as fuel. They're more than adequate. But it's a lot more pleasant if you convert them to charcoal before you start forging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattBower Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 The potters have lots of good stuff. Ceramic blanket, soft firebricks, anhydrous borax, fluorspar if you want an even more aggressive flux than borax, iron oxide if you want to try homebrewing iron and steel, grogs and clays if you're interested in homemade refractories and/or making crucibles, etc. I have an idea -- I haven't done the research -- that potters were probably the first iron smelters, albeit accidentally. Which, if true, sorta makes 'em our direct ancestors. Anyway, yes, always keep pottery suppliers in mind when you're looking for some of the harder-to-find stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firegnome Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 When I first started trying to forge weld I used very fine sand that was a hit miss thing but in thoses days I only had hard coal. Not knowing of soft coal or charcoal. I did mannage to take a cable and electric weld the ends. Then I heated it up and un twisted it a bit to get flux in deep twisted it back, then kept heating it and tightening the twist till I was afraid it would break. Fluxed it again and slowly brought it up to temp just before it started sparking bright yellow not molten pulled it out and welded it. moving it and working it at welding temp until I had a solid block. I had a few letter openers and knives from this and it ecthed well. if you get the cable down good try a box of paper clips makes a great demo:) Remember that the cable should be clean of grease and oil before you heat and flux. Firegnome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Budd Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 if you get the cable down good try a box of paper clips makes a great demo:) Remember that the cable should be clean of grease and oil before you heat and flux. Firegnome sounds like fun. How do you weld a box of paperclips though? is it in a can? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Budd Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 As Mr Powers says, you are making charcoal as the wood burns. So although you can forge in a wood-fired forge, you need REALLY long tongs! tried it once for the experience and then grabbed the bag of charcoal ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross_FL Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Damascus Mike, If you would like I can mail you borax, it's something I can get any day of the week as well as just about anything you need to weld with. It's not very expensive, $6USD. Sned me a message if you want to talk about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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