Broke a $90 forge weld on a custom shoe last Thursday

Was out in the barn at 6 PM trying to rush through this draft horse set, hit the weld wrong with the hammer, and the whole thing split clean in half - has anyone else had luck fixing a forge weld after it breaks or do you just start over?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_aaron1d ago

Honestly, you might be able to save it if you clean both halves really good and reheat slow, but I've never had a forge weld hold again after a split like that. Did you use flux or just try to hammer it down without?

claire_hart531d ago

Oh man, @the_aaron, I've been there... I managed to save one by sanding both faces clean and using a fresh borax coating before reheating to an even orange, and it held up fine for a few more heats.

lopez.quinn17h ago

borax coating before reheating" is key, @the_aaron, I've had decent luck doing that too. Even if the weld splits, a fresh coat and slow heat can sometimes let you get one more forge weld out of it before it's toast.