Forge welding wrought iron

[dickb]

I tried to post this earlier but must have made a mictake so here goes again.

I have few pieces of wroutht iron that I'd like to forge weld.
They've been out in the open for years and have little surace rust.

They are real wrought iron.

Do I need to clean the area to be welded or just wire brush them.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

[CurlyGeorge]

Always start with clean material. Wrought iron usually doesn't rust all that bad. Clean it with a wire brush or wire wheel, at the weld joint. Should work OK.

[nonjic]

posted reply to this in knifemaking mate.

[dablacksmith]

ive forge welded wrought iron by folding it over flux and weld didnt do more than wire brush it but... it takes more heat to weld and be careful not to hit too hard initially as it wants to fray and come apart if hit to hard initially.. good luck

[bruce wilcock]

i used to re work wrought iron ,mostly old chain ,anchors ,and boat iron work, salvaged from the sea bed, it was heavily coroded and covered with concretion,we used to knock of the heavy corosion with hammers and then it went into the forge and we welded it up then forged it to size ,the heat you should be working wrought iron at ,rust will be no problem it will come of with the first welding heat whilst you work up your iron.I still have several ton of old anchors in the yard some well over a ton each i will never work them up now ,so if you want to come over i will fill your truck.

[CurlyGeorge]

Bruce, I'll be there as soon as I can get my Paddles welded on to my truck tires. LOL. Wish that I could get hold of some of that. It would be interesting, to say the least!! :D