Can we talk about forge welding a simple chain link?

I figured a basic round link would be a quick afternoon project. Getting the scarf joint to line up perfectly before the weld took me FOUR separate heats and about three hours of fussing. I kept getting a cold shut on one side no matter how I fluxed it. Finally got it by holding the pieces with a pair of tongs in each hand, which felt ridiculous. Has anyone found a better way to hold small pieces for a weld like this?

3 comments

3 Comments

river32028d ago

Double down on what hayden said about heating a bigger section. I had the same cold shut headache till I started bringing more of the bar up to welding heat and it made a night and day difference on alignment.

the_oscar1mo ago

Ever try using a small clamp or vise grip to hold it? That scarf joint is a pain to line up by hand lol.

hayden1441mo ago

I read an old blacksmithing book that suggested using a short piece of heavy wire as a third hand. You twist it around the joint to hold the scarf tight, then just forge it into the weld. It sounds messy, but the author swore it kept everything aligned through the heat. Your method with two tongs is the classic struggle, I've been there too. That cold shut usually means one piece cooled faster than the other. Maybe try heating a larger section of the stock so the heat soaks in more evenly next time.