divermike Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 Well I learned how not to do another project. I took and old rusty bolt and nut combo, hammered the nut flat into the the bolt, in non welding heat, it looked somewhat organic, I had planned to file the rough edges down to make it look like a bush or tree, then started rounding the head prior to drawing out the neck for a plant hanger, turns out the metal was xxxx, and it started falling to pieces, there goes 20 minutes I'll never get back, but at least I worked up a good sweat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unkle spike Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 "Humility is a hard teacher, a fair teacher, but a hard one" If you immediatly did the same thing, you learned nothing, but now you have shared a valuable lesson with oh around 1000 people. Not a waste by any means. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Einhorn Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 A valuable lesson, sometimes mystery metal crumbles. If you have a bunch of mystery metal it sometimes pays off to test a piece to see how well it forges and at what temperature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Thompson Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 Blimey, you must have been bored! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meinhoutexas Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 so the fanned out piece???? just keep beating till you felt better? good therapy heat beat repeat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welder19 Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 High grade bolts just don't forge well, not sure why but that is usually what happens to them, they can take one or two low heats but that is about it. At least in my experiences. welder19 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easilyconfused Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 Would this be what's known as a red short type of steel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 It'd be Hot short. Forging at red is generally considered too cold unless the steel calls for it. If it crumbles at red heat it could arguably be called cold short though red short would be more accurate. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
divermike Posted July 28, 2009 Author Share Posted July 28, 2009 all I know is it got my shorts in a bunch!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweany Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 "all I know is it got my shorts in a bunch!! " says divermike Well,that just makes you walk funny,but it does amuse people. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 For goodness sake Mike read your own signature. I would say you have just done exactly that and probably a lesson learned that will not be forgot for quite a while. Remember any fool can make a mistake but it takes a true idiot to repeat it. BTW I really like the idea that you started out with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
double_edge2 Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 id do it again but hotter, ive found some metals doing the same thing to me have an extremely narrow, hot, window for hammering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peacock Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 The reason the nut end came off, in my opinion, is when you forged the threaded end down the threads acted just like a crack or cold shut. As you thinned the metal the minor diameter of the thread met in the middle. This is a great lesson shared with others. It is IMPOSSIBLE to forge a crack or cold shut or lap out. It must be cut, filed or ground out as soon as you know you have a problem. It is also possible to be fixed by welding the crack, but you must be sure to get to the bottom of the crack. If you get to it before It starts to close you can fuller it out. I have had similar result with the head end. I wonder if it has somrthing do do with the way the bolt was headed, most likley cold upset. Maybe nakedanvil or Mark A. would have a better explanation. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.