Found Dreaming

I've been playing with some more artsy fartsy stuff. Heating a stack of Quarters until they fuse together and then Beating the stack senseless. The Nickel Copper layers make a wood grain look Like Damascus Steel.
First I turned my little furnace on it's side to use it like a forge. Made a clamp devise with 2 pieces of steel and 4 bolts. I clamped $2 worth of quarters in it and heated it up. You wait until the stack gets shiney and starts to sweat. Take it out and give it a whack, tighten the bolts and put it back in the heat. When it seems solid take it out and unbolt it. Then you have a chunk of metal to beat and twist to make patterns. I don't have the pattern part down yet. It's hard to see the pattern.

I already have enough devices for beating the shit out of my wallet besides melting it down


we need some new more modern smilies.

David

Using coins is much cheaper than buying copper, brass and nickel sheets. I am going to try stainless steel, maybe it won't turn my finger green.
I have some plans for a combination casting and forging project. I hope I can at least get it started in the next few weeks. Forge a blade and cast a holder for it. Using Steel, stainless steel, brass, copper and maybe some cast Iron.

Here's another shot of the ring.

That's nice work on the ring. Wonder if it'll turn your finger green wear'n it 'cause of the copper exposed?

Yes, it turns green after a while. If I were going to wear it I would coat the inside with clear polish. I was thinking of using it for a knife handle spacer or part of the pommel. I picked up some stainless steel, hope to try it out this week.

Jammer when you did this did you put any type of flux in the stack when you heated the quarters up to weld together???

Most people say not to use a flux, but I dipped the quarters in acid to clean them and then in some liquid solder flux. I stacked them up and clamped them.

may have to give it a try, have a buddy that used to make knifes that said he would help me hone my knife skills. plus I need a bowie knife to go with this rifle

I got some half dollars from the bank I want to try. Maybe 4 or 6 dollars worth. I need a different clamp, the one I made isn't big enough. I can't seem to cut the stainless steel I got, I think it's 18 gauge, about .075 in. thick. My little band saw wouldn't cut it. Hand snips broke.

.075 thick isn't very thick if your thinking about it for a clamp. I have some that's about 3/16" I think I still have it, if I do I could cut you out a couple pieces