JackPines Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 Forge scale, a topic of discussion for all new smiths, but I'd like to ask something odd (at least no searches turn up results so I'm guessing it's odd). Is there any use for forge scale? I see that mill scale, the industrial level of our shop dust, is used in a variety of things but nothing that seemed useful to me. Does anyone here do anything with it other than sweep it into the yard/trash? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzzkill Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 Well, it is iron oxide, so if you ever had a desire to smelt your own steel you could save all your scale and reduce it back to iron or steel, depending on the method used. I saw one post on here where someone making items with a power hammer intentionally sprinkled scale on the work to produce a "hand forged" effect. I just sweep it into the driveway since I have no plans to do any smelting at this point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayneCoeArtistBlacksmith Posted June 15, 2018 Share Posted June 15, 2018 I collect it up then when I want a forged scale look to a piece I sprinkle the scale on the piece and drive it in. It is harder than the hot iron so leaves an impression. Try it. I have just read this again and it does not translate well. Just try it and see the results. Let me know if I can help you Wayne Coe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedefiddle Posted June 15, 2018 Share Posted June 15, 2018 Good Morning, I use it for when I am punching Holes, helps stop the punch from sticking. Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted June 15, 2018 Share Posted June 15, 2018 Punch lube. You can collect a 5 gallon bucket and take it to the junk yard and trade it for good steel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billyO Posted June 15, 2018 Share Posted June 15, 2018 Or if you belong to a black smithing group who has a fundraising auction, you could submit a bag for a smith who wants to look like they've been working to sprinkle around their anvil.... as always peace and love billyO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 15, 2018 Share Posted June 15, 2018 scale will prevent steel from forge welding together ! so if you were making a bell out of pipe you would put some in pipe and flatten pipe then draw/flare out to bell shape then open up & finish shape + also stuff above It has use's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meadowgrove Posted June 15, 2018 Share Posted June 15, 2018 Sprinkle some in your beer to boost hemoglobin? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie Dagger Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 I save it for iron-gall ink and thermite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 That’s some incendiary writing, right there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackPines Posted June 17, 2018 Author Share Posted June 17, 2018 You all are great! I see don't think I'll be making thermite, but who knows. I will definitely try it as punch lubricant, though. I follow your meaning, WayneCoeAtristBlacksmith. Making crusty looking stuff is no challenge for me as a relative newbie as I am learning to create more finished-looking pieces but I'll keep that in my back pocket. Medowgrove, an additive to my cask when aging my stouts, hmm? I'm not a member of a group, yet, but will be hunting one out now that I'm finally able to setup a forge again 4 years after moving to the Seattle area. I really like the idea of just collecting the scale for use in a fundraiser. Thanks, everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 JackPines Please READ THIS FIRST and add your location to your profile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayneCoeArtistBlacksmith Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 I forgot to put in my reply that if you have had to do some grinding, such as having used the mig welder to join two pieces, you have a smooth non forged area. Heat it back up and drive the scale in to make the grinding disappear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billyO Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 And Jack, I hope to see you at one of the NWBA events in soon. as always peace and love billyO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 It can be used as an abrasive too; that's why anvil faces get polished out with a lot of use. It is softer than aluminium oxide or silicon carbide though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudman Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Good ideas here, I had no idea. Although I started randomly collecting it when I sweep up at the end of the day. Almost got a 1gal jug full. Note- I don't get to forge a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4elements Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 On 6/17/2018 at 8:15 AM, billyO said: And Jack, I hope to see you at one of the NWBA events in soon. This Saturday 6/23/18 at 9am in Longview, wa is the next meet. Check blacksmith.org for details and directions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billyO Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Yes, the mentoring center is a great resource. I was the coordinator until health issues made me step back. I hope to get back there soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackPines Posted June 19, 2018 Author Share Posted June 19, 2018 Can't make the 2 hour trip this weekend. Between moving to the new homestead, friends (another blacksmith) flying in from Florida, and a party this weekend, I'm overbooked. I'll try to make the next one and, hopefully, have forged something by then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsasparilla Posted July 13, 2021 Share Posted July 13, 2021 I just now watched a recent Torbjorn Ahman video where is had just used an adhesive to reattach is anvil and didn't like the white caulk look, so he used forge scale to sprinkle on the caulk and completely changed the look. It was pretty cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Brouwers Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 (edited) I like the idea of scooping it up to sell as scrap. It might help to off set costs a tiny bit or just to give some more spending money! Edited November 13, 2021 by Will Brouwers Butterfingers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arkie Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 Where I live, I just sold some solid steel scrap for $0.125 per pound (that's 12.5 cents per pound, or as the yard said, $250/ton). It's gonna take a truck load of scale just to get enough cash to buy a loaf of bread these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAG Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 SLAG, here, A good use for crushed clinker and also forge scale is to sprinkle on ice when the car gets stuck on road ice. It greatly enhances traction. Just sayyin" SLAG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Brouwers Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 250/ton ain't bad! Better than just throwing it away! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 Should only take about 50 years to gather a ton of scale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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