Completely Forge Welded Guard

[Mark Elliott]

I know this is not a big deal for some of you, but this is the first time I got a good completely forge welded guard.    It is a milestone for me.  The bow was a bit thinner than I wanted on the first try.   This one will work for me.   It was forged out of an 8" section of 1/2" square wrought iron fence.    The grip rail spur was welded as normal.   The grip rail was riveted to the bow and welded in two heats.   Obviously, I have some filing and bending to do.  







Next on the welding milestone list is a welded three piece E TN guard,  then an over the comb tang.   

[Topknot]

Looks good to me. Awesome!

                                    topknot

[Curtis]

Very nice Mark!   I hope to try my hand at something like that one of these days!  Gotta get some coal first....
That will be sweet when you get it filed up.

Curtis

[mark esterly]

i really like that.   that is talent

[Acer Saccharum]

This is something I'd like to be able to do. Good for you, Mark.

[Mark Elliott]

Guys,  It wasn't so hard once I slowed down and actually watched what I was doing.  By the way,  I use a propane forge and plan to get another one. 

[David R. Pennington]

Mark, looks great. Is that wrought iron? I was so afraid to try welding in the forge. Thankfully I had a good teacher who walked me through. My first weld was a chain link. I was so proud of it I carried it around in my pocket a couple weeks. Once you get the hang of it it's not that hard is it? I burned up a lot of steel starting out. Forge welding is a skill set that really makes you more versatile and allows a lot more creativity in what you can do. I forge welded a little hawk with wrought iron strap and a piece of plow steel sandwiched for the bit. I have been using it to split hickory for the wood stove and it passes the test with flying colors. Wrought iron spoil you though. It welds so much nicer than steel.
I make my lock bolts now with the heads forge welded on.
What is the advantage of the propane forge? Sounds expensive to operate. I haven't used a gas forge since high school shop class. I like my coal fire. Getting harder to get good coal though.

[smylee grouch]

Mark, did you use Borax for flux?

[Cory Joe Stewart]

Fantastic Mark. Cant wait to see what you do with it.

Coryjoe

[Mark Elliott]

I use borax and boric acid for flux. 

The propane is expensive but it is easy to get and clean and easy to use.   You turn on the gas, press the igniter,  adjust the pressure and 15 minutes later you are at welding temp.  $20 worth o propane lasts 1.5 hours at welding pressure.  It takes 2 minutes to change tanks.  The forge I have doesn't allow you to adjust the oxygen input but the one I want to get does. That allows you to set a carburizing flame for welding and heat treating.  With the forge I am looking at getting,   I see no advantage to coal.  Of course,  most folks using propane, have a number of different types of forges or furnaces for different tasks. 

[cmac]

Looks good! I've done a couple forge welded and the biggest problem I had was hitting too hard for the weld and flattening out the bow too much. I haven't done it with wrought iron and would like to try that.