Forge weld stress test? | Problem Solving | Forum

Hello all. I've been practicing my forge welding of billets in preparation for getting into pattern welding. I used 4, 5" layers of 0.125 x 1" mild steel held together with 2 loops of wire wrapped 2x each that were ground and filed to get to bare steel. Took a red heat, fluxed, brought up to welding heat, and "set" (not sure if this is the right term) the weld on one side, re-fluxed, back in the fire. Second weld heat, "set" the other side of the stack, and back into the fire (can't remember if I fluxed again, probably did, though). 3rd welding heat I worked down the length of both sides of the stack, then squared up the billet, working until a bright red-orange color. Wire brushed, back into the fire and on the 4th heat (a good yellow), put the billet in the vice, twisted 2 full turns, then started un-twisting. I got 1/2 turn back when I felt a "pop" that told me a weld failed (my intent). The end result was the middle weld failed for only 3/4-1" in length about 1/16-3/32" deep near where the vice jaws were.

My question: Was this an extremely violent test of the billet (like I hoped) and if I were to have treated this stack of welds to more normal forging (more heats to draw out and shape) would this have been a successful weld?

thanks