Chris,
Thanks for the comment, maybe later we can post a topic on barrel forging since it seems we have wandered off this topic. Your observation is certainly true, I do the fusion weld in a very stout piece of angle iron with the open end pointing up. I guess that acts in the same manner as a swage block. Using the angle iron setup the hot barrel just slides in the long channel - it saves having to pick it up all the time to make the weld. I must add here that I do the weld by myself, without a helper, and only having two arms there must be some modification to the two man process shown on your post. I do forge the octagon flats on a simple anvil - but much after the weld is complete, sometimes the next day. I do not forge around a mandrel (remember only two arms) but drive a mandrel in/out after each weld section is complete to round out the hole. The mandrel is made as a slide hammer.
Danny, I can tell that you have forged wrought iron. I do not know the exact definition of "red short" - I have a pair with hearts and I Love You all over them. Seriously, I try to keep wrought iron at least orange while forging. If I continue to forge as it goes dull red, there is a high risk of the metal splitting along the slag strings. This is especially true of coarse wrought iron and when working near the edge of a part. Sometimes when I get that dratted split on a part the otherwise looks good, I will repair weld oxy-acetylene (but don't tell on me).
It has been really great corresponding with you all, but in a couple of days I will be serving my term overseas until late May and will probebly have little internet access until then.
Jim Everett
