Finally got a usable forge weld after 18 months of trying

I started blacksmithing as a hobby about 3 years ago, and forge welding has been my white whale. Last week at my shop in rural Ohio, I managed to get a decent weld on two 1/4 inch bars of 1080 steel. They held together through the hammer and the quench without splitting. Has anyone else struggled with getting the right heat for their first good weld?

2 comments

2 Comments

johnh821mo agoMost Upvoted

Jaw literally dropped when you said 18 months because that is brutal.

willowc601mo ago

Eighteen months is criminal, I waited fifteen for mine and almost lost my mind.