To cold or hot forge 360 H02 Brass

W

WilliamWalllace

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Mar 24, 2015
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Hello good folks,

I'm looking for some advice on the above mentioned. I have a customer that's asking if I can make him a sword. The simple sword is from a video game. What I need to do is bend a piece of 1/8" X 1 1/4" brass along the edge to a 4 1/2" radius. I am lacking the use of a press. I have a forge, strong arm, and a hammer.


Thanks in advance!

V/R
William
 
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Most non-ferrous alloys like brass are usually forged cold. If you have a lot of hammering to do, you'll notice it begin to work harden and get springier. You have to keep annealing it by heating it up to gently glowing red/orange and quench it in water (or air if it's a small piece). If ya don't keep it annealed and work it too far, it will begin to crack apart. Annealing leaves a nasty oxidized layer of "fire scale" that can be removed with abrasives or "pickled" off with acid, unless you protect it from the flame with high temp flux. I would not use your forge for this if you also plan to use that same forge for forge welding steel.
 
Thank you!

That's what I was afraid of, was work hardening. I have hammered smaller pieces of brass in the past. The main thing that worried me was the odd dimension of the piece I need to wok on. It's wide and thin. I know as I work it to the shape I need. It will want to buckle on the inside and stretch on the outside. I believe after much more research, I'm going to cast the two pieces I need in green sand. I have access to a crucible that I can use in my propane forge. I also have about a pound and a half of brass cut offs from other projects. This project will be a learning experience and should be fun!
 
Start from the beginning ! 360 brass is a free machining grade of brass, the most machinable .NOT heat treatable but is availabe cold worked H02 is 'Half Hard' condition . Best way is to work a bit then anneal and continue to do that until you get the shape you want .It is , as I remember , 'hot short' that is somewhat brittle when hot enough to forge. It is 'free machinable' because it contains lead . Don't attempt to melt ,especially mixing alloys.
 
The brass is for part of the guard. I have the proper ventilation and respiratory protection. I would use a different type of brass for casting. I read the rules about posting pictures. I do have a question about them though. Would it be ok to post a link to a picture? I have no ownership of the image.
 
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