Finally got my forge welds to stick every time

I kept having trouble with my forge welds coming apart... no matter how hot I got the steel, it just wouldn't fuse right. Tried flux and hammering harder, but still got cold shuts. Then I started paying attention to the sound when I tap it... a dull thud means it's too cold, a sharp ring means it's ready. So I waited for that ring, then gave it a few solid blows with the cross peen. Next thing I know, the weld held tight and clean. Took a bunch of scrap pieces to practice, but now I can do it without thinking. Feels good to solve something that's bugged me for weeks.

2 comments

2 Comments

seth6835h ago

Listen for that ring you mentioned. How do you pick it out over the forge noise and hammer strikes? I've had times where I thought I heard it right but still got cold shuts. Were you using mild steel or something with more carbon? Also, did you change how you held the cross peen for those solid blows? Like, more angle or less force on the follow-through? Just trying to nail down the details so I can try it myself.

margaret_gonzalez251h ago

My buddy had that same problem until he switched to a higher carbon steel. He also realized his cross peen angle was too steep and lightened up on the follow through.