Forging Naval Brass - Twisting round bars

Forging Naval Brass for a customer in Cape Cod. We set up a table jig for twisting and used a gas forge for the heating of the brass. Working temp is roughly 850 to 1250. Too low and it shatters, too high and it "goes away". Much harder than it looks especially when the material is in the $7/lb range.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Naval
• Brass
• forging
• blacksmithing
• blacksmith
• twisting

[ActaSanctorum]

what was the initial shape of the bar? It appears to be fullered round, but it's hard to tell with these tiny vid windows/quality. looks great

[andhija]

Round bar 3/4". I forged a bit of flat onto the bar and used that as a table to hot chase a line on both sides.  You can see the chased line where I hadn't twisted it yet around 1 minute in.

[drgnfly4g]

Looks good, Andy. What's it for?

[andhija]

A canopy in bronze over a picture window for a house in Cape Cod. A long time business acquaintance needed a rope twist element on 2" square helixed and curved edge bar. The architect specified this look and he came to me to supply. I love these opportunities because it lets me do what I do well and solve a problem for someone else.

[BobbyTDesigns]

@wafuf14

Brass and Bronze are Tricky. This material is Naval Brass. For hot work you want Naval (typical brass color) or red bronze (reddish). Work them from dull orange to black heat. don't work below 600 or above 1400 or you will lose the material.

For cold work you can use most bronze brass alloys.  Get material that is full anneal to half hard. If you are forming them much you will want to anneal or it will crack., Cutting, grinding and drilling are easy but use sharp tools.

[wafuf14]

Are brass plates easy to work with?Or at least turning brass into plates? I'm intending to use brass for a steam punk project yet I want to forge the metals instead of assembling it together with wood

I do not have any specialized tools just a hammer, a flat solid surface and a torch

[l101177]

Very interesting to watch!