Welshj Posted May 18, 2020 Author Share Posted May 18, 2020 It was a triangular cross section of bearing race doubled top and bottom, with a piece of flat military vehicle leaf spring between to make a rectangle... Best guess would have 52100 for the bearing, 5160? For the spring? I knew from go that it was going to be a challenge, but that was the point... just experimenting. I got maybe half of it welded together, but it slid apart from there on. Kind of figured it might. But I had just got my burner dialed in closer to forge welding heat... and just wanted to try with what I had on hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welshj Posted July 19, 2020 Author Share Posted July 19, 2020 Got my first real forge weld today! Yay me.... lol. Twisted up a 1/2" cable to try my hand at it. Got it welded together well, flattened it and doubled it over. Knew going in that it was going to be a small billet, if a billet at all. So, I made a tiny knife. Now I gotta get something to etch with! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted July 19, 2020 Share Posted July 19, 2020 Try vinegar for the etch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welshj Posted July 26, 2020 Author Share Posted July 26, 2020 On 7/18/2020 at 10:44 PM, Irondragon ForgeClay Works said: Try vinegar for the etch. Did so, let it set over night in a cleaning strength vinegar- could just barely see the pattern in the steel... enough to see it and tell it looked like a snake skin pattern. But not well defined. Some ferric chloride coming in the mail soon! I'll get it polished some more and try again when I get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 27, 2020 Share Posted July 27, 2020 One thing to remember is: when etching materials that are close to the same stuff; the WEAKER the etchant the better usually as a strong etchant will just eat everything where the weak will show a preferential bite. Have you tried a hot salt and vinegar etch? (Those little crock pots are very handy for such things!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welshj Posted January 13, 2021 Author Share Posted January 13, 2021 I think my time here is done. To those who helped me, I give thanks for sharing your knowledge and advice. And hope I helped someone along the way... if not, I can only apologize. But I will always be me, and will continue to swing a hammer on some type of metal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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