What in the He## was THAT!

[Chris Railey]

There I were forge welding up some Go-Mai and setting my first weld by hand and BAM sounded like a firecracker went off when I hit the steel. Scared me a little. I have forge welded quite a bit and NEVER had that before. What gives?

 

[JeremyBartlett]

Air pocket!

 

[Chris Railey]

Sounded like a .22 rifle going off in my billet. A surprise to say the least. Shot hot flux and scale on my hand too.

 

[billyO]

Air pocket!

That, or water on the anvil. This can be used to help remove scale each heat. A number of smiths will wipe the anvil with a wet mop after each heat both to clean it from scale and to 'pop' scale off. I've done this before, but have yet to get in the habit of doing it regularly.

Shot hot flux and scale on my hand too.

Welcome to the club. If you plan on pursuing a career in hand modelling, I'll suggest getting in the habit of wearing gloves.

 

[Daniel Macina]

Shot hot flux and scale on my hand too.

Have several scars on my hands and arms from a little too much flux or other forging uh ohs.

ps: this was with gloves.

 

[Chris Railey]

Have several scars on my hands and arms from a little too much flux or other forging uh ohs.

ps: this was with gloves.
View attachment 76574

That was hot flux.

 

[Chris Railey]

That, or water on the anvil. This can be used to help remove scale each heat. A number of smiths will wipe the anvil with a wet mop after each heat both to clean it from scale and to 'pop' scale off. I've done this before, but have yet to get in the habit of doing it regularly.

Welcome to the club. If you plan on pursuing a career in hand modelling, I'll suggest getting in the habit of wearing gloves.

It could have been water on my anvil it is mega humid here today and everything in the shop was sweating including me.

 

[Daniel Macina]

That was hot flux.

Yes sir.

 

[Gliden07]

That was hot flux.

Been there! I have a small scar on my forearm from same thing! Hurts like Hell when it happens!!