how to make a round ball in a center of a 3/8 sqaue bar

[stevereishus]

I am have a little trouble making a round ball like a ball bearing in the square stock. I want make to of them in the bar. I want to add a new look to the canddle hoddlers that I make, Please help

[John B]

Forge weld a collar of suitable size, depending on how big you want the feature to be, around the section where you want it, then use a top and bottom swage of the appropriate diameter to round it into a ball blending it into the main stock, usually you will get a round section at the junction that will undercut the square section slightly, emphasising the feature.

Or alternatively you could make up a ball tool to use under a power hammer if you have one.

[stevereishus]

thank John that helps out great, I was trying to make it into one peice I will do that way to make it easier. Unfourtently I don't have a power hamer But I like the way explain how to do it thank you

[jeremy k]

Steve - I have a spring swage for a 1/2" mid-ball - which is for putting a 1/2" ball in the middle of a 1/2" round stock bar - one can be made for 3/8" easily and these can be used without a power hammer. - I'll bring it to the next meeting. - JK

[Nakedanvil - Grant Sarver]

The 1/2" midball will almost make a 1/2" ball on 3/8" square. Really close, being square there is almost enough material. You should try it with jeremy's swage and see how you like the result. Otherwise you'll want to make a 7/16" midball swage, that avoids getting too much extrusion.

[devon blacksmith]

We use the fly press with ball tools to make these on 1" bar

[JerryCarroll]

I have made several different size spring swages made from ball bearing races. I use a wafer blade on the 4 1/2" angle to cut the race into the lengths that work for me--heat them up and almost flatten the pieces- leaving a slight curve on the working side. I have some dies made for my smithing magician and some for the anvil as spring tools. Oh yeah--you gotta weld the race pieces to the tools facing each other.

[beth]

love the pic devon blacksmith - do you have pictures of the stages of the process?

[divermike]

I would make 2 -90 degree bends on both sides of where you want the ball, heat and drive the bends towards the center to upset enough material for the ball then swage and shape, being careful to not thin the material too much.

[stevereishus]

I wish my printer was working so I can print all this information out so I can pin it up in my garge

[devon blacksmith]

Beth
next time I make some I will take stage by stage pics.

[stevereishus]

Want to thank everyone I finelly got balls made and they turn out nice sorry I don't have pitures to show you