Can you Forge weld with it?
No, 1000w is not enough. but you can bring the tang near the melting point. I think 2000w is enough.
But I'm not a blacksmith. I only make handles and restore old knives
Can you Forge weld with it?
I would love to forge weld 3-7 layer billets. I have thought about an induction forge. My goal now is to get my grinds as nice as my handles.No, 1000w is not enough. but you can bring the tang near the melting point. I think 2000w is enough.
But I'm not a blacksmith. I only make handles and restore old knives
I found this cheap hobby induction forge. It has 2800W. I think this is the minimum power for forging.I would love to forge weld 3-7 layer billets. I have thought about an induction forge. My goal now is to get my grinds as nice as my handles.
I'm not sure that an induction forge will be practical for home forge-welding, or even work. Heat isn't the most important thing when welding, it just makes things easier. In order to forge weld, a form of diffusion welding (which is really what forge welding is), you need what's known as a 'reducing atmosphere' which (for the purpose of this discussion) is an atmosphere without oxygen. The only way I can see doing that with an induction forge is to have the equipment in a tent or some other enclosure where an inert gas (like argon) is pumped in, forcing all oxygen out. Kinda like MIG/TIG welding or when welding titanium.\I would love to forge weld 3-7 layer billets. I have thought about an induction forge.
While I understand what you are saying, standard forge welding is done in an large fire while blowing air/oxygen in. There are examples of people using induction forges for forge welding online/YT/blade forums.I'm not sure that an induction forge will be practical for home forge-welding, or even work. Heat isn't the most important thing when welding, it just makes things easier. In order to forge weld, a form of diffusion welding (which is really what forge welding is), you need what's known as a 'reducing atmosphere' which (for the purpose of this discussion) is an atmosphere without oxygen. The only way I can see doing that with an induction forge is to have the equipment in a tent or some other enclosure where an inert gas (like argon) is pumped in, forcing all oxygen out. Kinda like MIG/TIG welding or when welding titanium.\
Let me know if y'all want me to go into more detail on what diffusion (forge) welding is.
I think if you want to be precise you need a table or a jig. I actually really like how you rounded off the corners. I’m guessing it feels good in your hand as well.I measured and marked the angles but keeping them really crisp was a challenge doing them by hand. My belt/disk sander doesnt have a 45 degree adjustment. I guess I will have to rig things up.
most people like the ferrule rounded, but not the octaganals. I have been complimented on my nice crisp octagonals. that just didn't sound right...I had an octo handle arrive with super sharp corners recently. Had to round them a bit for comfort and now I love the feel of the handle.
most people like the ferrule rounded, but not the octaganals. I have been complimented on my nice crisp octagonals. that just didn't sound right...
Don't remember me on Global knives . Global knives are a nightmare . It's the worst knife I have ever had. A 10$ Ikea knife is better.
Or this Porsche knives.... Jesus Christ please help us
Just so you don't think I'm a " 'net expert", I've got over 8 years experience blacksmithing and forge welding damascus billets, and yes, I use a propane forge with a forced air blower. What you might not understand is that in order to be successful you need to make sure there is no oxygen in the area of the weld, because Iron Oxide will prevent a successful weld, this is known as a 'reducing' atmosphere. So when we are using a propane or natural gas forge, we have to either increase the gas supply or decrease the air supply (or both) to make sure there is no oxygen in the forge itself. In the blacksmithing community, this is commonly referred to as the 'dragon's breath', which is nothing more than the excess fuel combining with oxygen outside of the forge and burning.While I understand what you are saying, standard forge welding is done in an large fire while blowing air/oxygen in. There are examples of people using induction forges for forge welding online/YT/blade forums.
Thank you for digging into this. I am months to years from starting my forge setup.I just did a search for videos on using an induction heater for forge welding, and sorry to say, Bensbites, but found only one video where a blacksmith was using his induction heater to try to weld up a wheat twist handle.
I'm still not convinced that would be useful or practical (and part of me want to question his experience with forge welding, because he failed to even mention if he cleaned the forge scale off the pieces to weld and didn't look like he used any sort of flux which does a good job both cleaning off contaminants and preventing oxygen from coming into contact with the weld surfaces). It took him a couple of tries to get the "weld" to stick which also makes me question the integrity of the weld.
More importantly, however, is that he was using this technique on a decorative piece, not a tool that needs to hold up to sharpening and use. One thing that can happen, even to folks who have achieved their Master Smtih certification and who are following all the historical tried and true methods (reducing atmosphere, use of flux, etc), are inclusions, delaminations, or other bad welds that we sometimes don't discover until the final grinding/polishing of the blade. This then becomes one for the scrap bin. I'd like to see him cut through the weld and etch it with an acid to see how much of the steel was actually welded, and how much was held together just by the wraps getting mushed together,
Finally, I met a couple of guys through the NWBA who make damascus billets for sale to knife makers, and AFAIK, they have not yet been able to be consistent with using their induction forges to weld up billets. I haven't talked to them in over a year, so it's possible they have figured it out since then.
If you have any links to other videos where a smith is using the induction forge to weld, I'd love to see them.
If you look at the thread I started (how to cut slots in Japanese collars) I have a few pictures there. Sorry I don’t know how to link it. Here’s one that I took with the new addition of lock down knobs. It really does work well and was easy to make.And as you come up with tools, I would love to see those. In fact if you could post some images of the tool that you made to cut the tang slot, I think a lot of people in the forum would love to see it. From what I have read in the threads, that seems to be a challenge for most of us amateur tinkerers. Other than those lucky enough to have a milling machine
Have you got a drill press?And as you come up with tools, I would love to see those. In fact if you could post some images of the tool that you made to cut the tang slot, I think a lot of people in the forum would love to see it. From what I have read in the threads, that seems to be a challenge for most of us amateur tinkerers. Other than those lucky enough to have a milling machine
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