Hit 500 perfect forge welds before my first fail

Did 500 welds in a row that held up solid. Then number 501 blew apart on the anvil. One tiny cold shut in the fold. Taught me more than all the wins. You guys track your fails or just your good ones?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_seth21d ago

Buddy of mine from the shop had a similar streak going with his damascus billets. He was at 247 clean welds in a row, bragging about it nonstop. Number 248 just exploded in the press and sent hot steel shrapnel across the whole bay. He said it was actually a relief because he'd been getting cocky and that fail saved him from some REAL bad habits down the line.

jakewhite21d ago

Dude, that is EXACTLY what happened to me! @the_seth I was on a tear with my cable damascus, 53 successful welds and I was feeling invincible. Then on number 54 I was showing off to a new guy and that billet just let go - folded steel and scale everywhere. I had to fish a piece of 1080 out of my welding jacket sleeve. It was humbling for sure and it definitely made me slow down and check my heat and flux way more carefully than before.