kerryd Posted March 30, 2019 Share Posted March 30, 2019 I finished my first damascus blade yesterday and noticed that I trashed more abrasives removing scale between restackings than I did grinding out the blade. I read a few posts that mentioned using vinegar to remove mill scales from pieces. Does this work on forge scale? I couldn't find anything specific. I'm not folding, I'm grinding and mig welding all my pieces so I can forge weld without flux. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 Mill scale IS forge scale---just usually thicker and more uniform. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 Wire brush to remove it as it forms can help a lot also Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
templehound Posted April 1, 2019 Share Posted April 1, 2019 Vinegar works but, sprinkle water on the anvil while forging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billyO Posted April 1, 2019 Share Posted April 1, 2019 When doing my damascus, I use an angle grinder to remove most of the scale before cutting and stacking, only using the belt grinder to smooth out the pieces. I also do most of mine without flux. I use vinegar after my final forging of my damascus before grinding. It usually takes a day or so, however. Like templehound and Steve said, watering the anvil helps and staying on top of the scale with the wire brush as you forge helps a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerryd Posted April 1, 2019 Author Share Posted April 1, 2019 2 hours ago, templehound said: Vinegar works but, sprinkle water on the anvil while forging. I'm doing it almost entirely with a press, but water hammering between heatingswill probably help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted April 1, 2019 Share Posted April 1, 2019 Water the press dies or maybe use a spray bottle and spritz the billet before pressing? A common practice you see in the big forging press and hammer videos is a person spraying the dies and stock before they cycles. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerryd Posted April 1, 2019 Author Share Posted April 1, 2019 Thanks frosty, I'll try that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerryd Posted April 1, 2019 Author Share Posted April 1, 2019 Spraying the press plates cooled them off too much. Wood splitter presses are slow. Given my level of experience that may be a good thing. However, plenishing with water at the end of a thinning cycle worked great! My thanks to everyone that put their two cents in. There IS a learning curve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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