Welding Steel/Iron

[Houaha]

i was wondering how can i weld steel/iron together? i don't know what temp it needs to be at(i would guess white hot) and then how would i weld it together after its that temp? would i just hammer them together? :confused:

if u need to know what i use for my forge its a basic brake drum forge and for coal i use anthracite chestnut sized coal.

[matt87]

There are myriad welding processes, but I'm guessing you're referring to firewelding/forgewelding.

Firewelding is considered to be the most arcane of the smith's techniques. There are many variables to look for. Rather than ramble on in my n00bishly ignorant way, I'll point you to a good article:

BP0093

There are more around the internet. Use your favourite search engine, take a look at the resource lists provided on this forum, buy/borrow some good books.

[Houaha]

thx that gives me a good idea on how its done

[ThomasPowers]

Please be specific welding wrought iron to steel was a very common technique, one tip is to put the WI side *down* in the fire as it can take more heat than the steel in the weld. It's what I do when I steel a WI chisel or axe.

Welding cast iron to steel is not done with blacksmith methods; brazing being the blacksmith method of attaching one to the other.

Note there is a technique of using cast iron to hardface steel by "crayoning" it onto the steel when the steel and cast iron heated to near cast iron melting temps.

Edited August 29, 2008 by ThomasPowers
Better Mike?

[Mike BR]

Thomas's last sentence isn't up to his usual standard of clarity. Cast iron can't be forge welded to steel (or to itself), but it can be brazed to either. It can also be arc welded, either with nickel rod or with much luck.

[John Martin]

The best book(s) that I have found on it, are The Backyard Blacksmith, and a Blacksmithing Primer.....I learned from that. I can get a GOOD weld almost everytime, and it's fun. Other than weld and flux burns. Lol.

[Dave Hammer]

Find a mentor, then practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice.

[Dave Hammer]

Seriously..... practice.

[John B]

And then a bit more practice,

[Rob Browne]

So many different types of steel, especially if you reuse scrap, you need to constantly practice. Even if you don't need to do a weld you need to do a practice one each fire up.