Bookie's Barrel Welding Seminar 2010

[Ken G]

Thought I would post a few pictures from Bookie's (Steve Bookout) barrel welding seminar.  We spent 2 pretty HOT days learning the basics and a few of the finer points of welding wrought iron wagon rim pieces into pistol barrels.  Maybe I haven't mentioned but it was HOT!!!  Even with the heat we all had a good time and leaned a lot.  Bookie is a most generous host and excellent teacher.  I'm very grateful for the knowledge he has freely shared.





Here's Eric.  He post on the ALR as Angus.  


That's George on the left and Bookie on the right.


Here's the Group
Left to Right
Chris Azevedo, George Morrison, Bob Smolen, Tim Crowe, Eric (Angus), and me

  

[angus]

Ken, you are right on with everything you have said of Steve's generosity in time, teaching, patience and materials. This was an excellent opportunity and privilege to be involved.
Thank you Brother Steve for all that you have given.

It was warm for a couple of days, but for every ounce of sweat, I think I soaked up an endless wealth of learned knowledge that can last a lifetime. I hope someday to pass it on as well in the same manner.

[Birddog6]

That looks like it would have been a  Great  learning experience for sure !  Always great to see someone pass down some valuable knowledge it took many many years to learn.     I wasn't there & I still thank you  Bookie !  

Tim Crowe, man you are one tough hombre, to say the least.    Forge welding barrels in flipflops & short pants.... Whew !!    

I'll bet ya all had a great time, it sure looks like hot work for July tho !!!!!!!

Keith Lisle

[Dennis Glazener]

Keith, he probably has hard toe flip-flops!
Dennis

[tim crowe]

Ya all just being funny. Forging in flip flops no thanks. Believe it or not that picture was after every one had washed for the picture . The  crew burned so much coal that they looked like coal monkeys at the end of the day.

I might add that Mr Ken Guy  received his Journeyman Gunmaker status last week. He has his Sheepskin papers he can hang on the wall.  Congrats again , Ken.

[ozrkreb]

I must say that this was a thoroughly enjoyable event. It was sure hot, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Bookie is a gracious host and a true longrifle treasure. My favorite part had to be the company. It was a pleasure meeting Ken, Tim, Eric, Bob, George, and of course, Bookie. I sure hope we can do something like this again in the near future.

Chris Azevedo

[ozrkreb]

Here are a few more pictures:

forming the scelp


scelp formed


forge welding








fluxing

[Ken G]

Chris,
Welcome to the board.  It was great meeting and working with you guys too.  Thanks for posting the extra pictures. 

Birddog,
You can see Tim's feet are safe and sound outside the forge peeking in.     I'm just giving Tim a hard time.  Tim is an old hand at barrel welding now.  This wasn't his first rodeo. 

Ken

[Rolf]

Boy, I envy you guys. Nobody forges barrels in Norway. Wish I could try that.
What was the dimensions on the piece of iron you started with and whats the wall thickness on the finished tube?

Best regards
Rolf

[tim crowe]

Rolf,
I am glad you asked. Most of the stock was about 7/16 or 1/2 " thick by 3 or more wide.
Personally I perfer thicker stock 5/8 or 3/4 , it gives you more material to work with.
First step was to square up the edges [ most were round from use on a wagon rim].
2nd start cupping the scelp [ U shape ]
3rd  bring the edges of the "U" till they almost touch.
4th bring the iron up to red hot flux with borax or fine sand
5th back into the fire and bring the iron up to greasy yellow [surface is molten]some sparks
         will be coming off the metal at this time.   
6th pull the hot scelp lay it on the swag block [see forging pics]
7th labourer [ anyone foolish enough to help] inserts metal mandrill into bore
8th you start hamming the 2 edges of your scelp together[there is a trick here , as you   drive the edges toward each other.
There is more than what I told you but  If you are really interested in learning the book "The  Search for  the Indian trade gun " can give you better understanding of the process.
 

[T.C.Albert]

Man...that looks like a great place to be...thanks for sharing. I do have one question, you may think Im nuts, but what does Bookie use the sickle bar sharpening wheel for? I guess I mean, is it useful as part of the gun shop too, and not used for sickle bars?
Thanks for letting me ask such a thing..
TC 

[Ken G]

After a day of flip flop forging we used that to grind the charred flip flop rimnets from Tim's feet.  In all seriousness, I've never seen him use it so I can't say for sure.
Ken

[Steve Bookout]

T.C.,  actually I have two sickle sharpeners.  The pedal model you see and an electric one in the garage.....and that's exactly what they are used for.  I still use hand sickles and have 3.....one for each time during the year that I decide a litte manual labor ought to be done........
     Our little seminar was great fun.  Talk about regional dialects and accents!   New Hampshire, Tennessee, Missouri, and double Wisconsin.  Us poor, unaccented Iowegians could hardly understand what was being said half the time.  Some really wonderful guys took part and shared their knowledge and experiences.  They each took something home with them, so the time was well spent.  Got one of Tim's rifle barrels rifled, too.  Took 3 hours and twenty minutes actual labor to cut and it turned out to be one of the prettiest pibe you've ever seen done by hand.  Cheers, Bookie

[tim crowe]

I am looking forward to Ken's handforged barrel on his next rifle. Just make sure you weld the barrel in flip flops