Blacksmithing - Don't Forge Cast Iron

Turns out, cast metals don't forge well. Try this at home for quite the spark show.

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[ArkansasPilgrim]

That's weird. It wouldn't be cast iron because hammers aren't made out of cast iron. They would break when you used it (cast iron is very brittle). Not sure what the deal is.

[IronWolfIndustrial]

I understand what you are saying about working tool steel too hot. I have done that before with some old files, and it just crumbles. This is definitely cast iron, because of the way it sparks so much. Normal tool steel, with a significantly lower carbon content than cast iron wouldn't spark, it would just crumble. Thank you for your comment, I understand what you were saying/asking.

[romandybala]

That is a cheap shit Chinese cast iron hammer. They cast them to look like a proper hammer because there is a lot less work in cast iron than to set up a forge with dies. I have had these hammers and they are hopeless. Try a hammer that has some manufacturer's mark. Any well made hammer can be reshaped in the forge as much as you want. Also those red brown sparks show it to be cast iron. That is a beautiful anvil you have there.

[_aullik]

i wonder if you can encase it in wrought iron and then fold it a couple times to get a decent steel.

[adamblakeslee]

I heard that people used to take cast iron and refine it back to steel but this was startlingly brittle.

[IronWolfIndustrial]

By annealing do you mean heating it up and then letting it cool? I did that beforehand, as I do with any piece of tool steel. Perhaps it didn't cool slowly enough. Thanks for the comment, no negativity taken.

[johnodom]

Is he talking about cast steel or cast iron? They are totally different!

[dajiban]

i forge cast iron and steel. it just takes a long time.

[Coopdeville]

same thing happened to me yesterday haha i was not expecting it at all because my first heat everything was fine but i also used a lighter hammer the first time.

[MrShane]

hmm insightful i just thought what would happen and ive learnt a few things thanks

[IronWolfIndustrial]

Thank you very much for the info. I used it because it was a cheapo hammer that came in a box of junk. Figures that it's a cheap Chinese knock off. They've knocked off everything except themselves. Give it a day, they'll do that soon enough. Thanks for the very informative comment, and the anvil is a Peter Wright, and it weights around 125 lbs. Wirebrushed it myself, sings like a good anvil.

[nicholasfotou]

you have to anneal it. heat it to low cherry red then let cool.  i forge cast iron easily.

[IronWolfIndustrial]

Cast iron is around 4 percent carbon. Steel is around 1-2 percent carbon. You were probably thinking of wrought iron, which has no carbon. This is cast iron, which has too much carbon, which makes it brittle.

[IronWolfIndustrial]

I had the forge built by some friends who are professional power plant welders. About Nuclear grade welds on this thing, no joke. The forge is basically all 1/4th inch plate, little thicker on the angle irons. Casters rated for around 2500 pounds each. Braces on the bottom for the firepot (though not necessary at all considering the thickness of the steel). They wanted to make it out of half inch plate. I laughed a little bit. Weighs approx. 350lbs. Go to my channel for a close up overview.

[IronWolfIndustrial]

No, not at the moment, but are you proposing to just burn off a bunch of carbon?

[codynewman]

I'm jealous of your anvil. I have the same peter wright but it's not in nearly the shape yours is in

[Snowy]

Being cast-iron does not make it a knock-off. All you need to do is lower the amount of carbon in the hammer, down to steel-grade, then you're good to use it.
I don't suppose you have a crucible?

[march]

Thank you for saving me a wasted effort

[edge]

I've had this happen before using a ball peen hammer. it is due to it being cast iron.

[SynoDesign]

um im sorry but i was under the impression IRON does not have any carbon in it regardless if its cast or not, other wise it would be steel?