Cleave Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 Yesterday I tried out charcoal for the first time (Cowboy brand lump charcoal). Hithertoo I've just used scrap wood in my trench forge, with varying results due to the varying fuel size and quality. Getting beyond orange heat has been elusive. I ran the charcoal first with the fuego style bellows I made, worked well enough, but took a lot of work sitting there pumping it. I still used maybe 50% scrap wood in the fire along with the charcoal. A few small chunks of construction lumber, and a bunch of hardwood drawknife and hatchet shavings. So for comparison, I got out the electric fan. That worked better, and the steel I was working came out looking "semimolten." It was a bright 102 F afternoon so color was hard to see accurately. So I got a short piece of 3/8 round bar, scarfed the ends, bent it into a ring. Heat to red, dump on some Borax, heat until it looked "semi molten". Take it fast to the anvil, rapid hammer blows, now it feels like I'm hammering one piece. Clean it up a little over the horn, maybe it actually worked?!!! Maybe another heat or two of cleanup, I forget. Then let it cool slowly. Later I stuck it in the bench vise, put a pry bar in there, and yank until the bench moves. Feels solid! Whack it with a hammer some, feels solid. Now, I have the ability at work, to pull test this with a 20,000 lb load cell and big chain pulls, and see how it actually fails. But I'll just keep this one as a victory piece.... Maybe I should make this into a properly shaped chain link, and try to add a few more links to it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 Looks like you got the scarf backwards. It should be oriented with the flatter side on the other side of the join with the end of the scarf curved SLIGHTLY into the joint so it bonds first. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 those gaps need to be closed up and welded before you use this as a chain link but great start Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleave Posted July 13, 2020 Author Share Posted July 13, 2020 Thanks for the tips guys, I'm just excited to have done a weld at all. Making a good weld, with the right shape on everything, may come with time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 I just realized I didn't congratulate you for getting a weld. It's a good thing, keep at it and soon it'll be no big deal. Well done. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 Make one every time you fire up and soon it will be just another skill under your hat! (Then comes the cleft welded mosaic damascus and wrought iron bottle openers...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleave Posted July 13, 2020 Author Share Posted July 13, 2020 It did actually surprise me how easy it was... in a way. One heat for the weld, a few good taps, and it sticks together. For me it was all in getting the fire figured out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjdaggett Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 Bravo, Cleave! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rojo Pedro Posted July 14, 2020 Share Posted July 14, 2020 Good on you! I have yet to get it right but blame poor fire management. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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