Tubbe Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Hi, I started a new project this week, a chandelier, inspired by Brian Brazeals method of joining pieces together in a forge welded bundle. Lets see how that goes... Started off with pieces of 5/8" square, which I tapered down leaving a 1" chunk on the end for the actual candle holder. Next up - welding the bundle! One thing that worries me is how I'm going to form/bend the arms into shape after the weld is done... could be a problem to reach into the fire with my side draft hood. Time will tell :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beth Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 tubbe i love that method brian showed - and desperately want to be able to do it so i watch with interest! it all looks beautifully neat - its going to look great - love how youve done the ends. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianbrazealblacksmith Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Nice job, Tubbe! Yes, the side draft will get in your way. I prefer to have just a 12 inch pipe suspended over my forge. I think you'll like the simplicity of this method, and it will open up a whole new world of possibilities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clinton Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 I did a forge welded bundle this week for a fire place set. I also have a side draft hood. I just heated up two of the arms and then pulled on the ends with a pair of tongs, put it back in the fire for the other side. I would post a picture but I keep getting an error500 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tubbe Posted November 13, 2011 Author Share Posted November 13, 2011 Well... the weld is done, but not 100% successful. The collar partially split open during the tapering and I realized the upper part was probably not completely welded.Don't know if it's possible to fix at this stage... however, it wont fall apart as it is. My plan was to punch and drift a hole in the tapered welded part, but I'm starting to feel thats a bad move... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beth Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 sorry tubbe i dont understand the first picture... arent all four bits separate inside the collar? scuse ignorance etc etc as usual :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clinton Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 I think that is the tool he used to make the collar Beth. I had a problem with the one I did, I wanted to draw out a taper and forge into a ring on top. It started to split open so I took a good heat, added some flux and got it back together. I decided to just go with a forged point Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beth Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 thanks clinton , obvious when you told me how did you hang yours then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clinton Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 The one that I did is a fire place set not a chandelier, I am having trouble with pictures or I would post them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beth Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 yeah me too with the pictures - its weird , some people seem to be able to upload.... i see, you did not hang it. theoretically the fire weld should be ok to punch and drift tho yeah?? tubbe , do you mean it is weakened so you dont want to do this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 I had trouble posting photos, too. I made the files smaller, around 60kb and then they loaded. I know that isn't suposed to be the way, but... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tubbe Posted November 21, 2011 Author Share Posted November 21, 2011 Done! I'm pretty happy with the result. Yes clinton, I also encountered the problem with the tip splitting when forging the thin part of the taper. I rewelded the tip, and decided not to go any thinner. I may have forged the tip at too low temp. I read everywhere that when forging a welded part you should forge at almost welding temperature. I don't know if that's always true, though... I don't know if I would recommend doing your first "forge welded bundle" at this size... the bundle with collar measured 1 5/8" (pre weld). With that mass one need allot of heat and you should let it soak for a good while to get even temperature for all of the bundle. Don't rush and get half good weld as I did :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dillon Sculpture Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 Very nice piece, controlled forging and clean lines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beth Posted November 22, 2011 Share Posted November 22, 2011 really beautiful, very elegant - i love the forged top. nice one tubbe!! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfootnampa Posted November 22, 2011 Share Posted November 22, 2011 Beautifully done! You should be happy with that result. In future similar projects you might be able to eliminate the tip separation problems by leaving one leg longer so that the tip stock all comes from the one bar. That would minimize the forging to be done on the welded sections and make life a bit less challenging, while keeping the same look and design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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