Got two questions here. My friend Jim Slining gave me two (3/4"?) bars of wrought iron. I want to know what sort of things turn out well in wrought iron and what things are harder to do. Oh, and is wrought iron easy to weld?

The other question: My uncle is getting married and I want to make something for the couple, but I am having trouble coming up with any ideas. Can you help me?

Thanks for your help,  Anthony

Slit cross from square stock then etched in acid.  The size and quality of the wrought matters.   Wrought and steel Damascus

Second question How are we supposed to guess what your uncle would like?  At random I'd make him a double heart bottle opener. (Heart on either end)

 

1st question; what grade of wrought iron?  The coarser grades are good for items that will be etched to show the striations: leaves, limbs, knife furniture, animals etc.

Wrought iron forge welds nicely at high heats.  Wrought iron frays apart if forged at regular heats. Wrought iron is harder to fusion weld or arc weld.

Toasters are traditional.  Lots of designs available if you Google on "wrought iron toaster" , then click on "images"

How are we supposed to guess what your uncle would like?

I was just wondering about wedding gifts in general. But I found another thread about wedding gifts using the ------------> SEARCH FUNCTION! (should have done it sooner.) 

 

Thanks guys.

I have a wine rack planned as a wedding gift for a friend of mine. I'll probably forge out the rings I need in class later this month when I have access to the long gas forge, so I can do the rings in one heat to try and keep them even. I may do a leaf and vine motif on it, but I haven't made up my mind on that part yet.

Some good friends from another state got married a couple years ago, part of their wedding gift were some local brewed beers and a Michigan wine and a custom bottle opener.

I keep waiting for a couple friends to get married who would appreciate manacles.

Frosty The Lucky.

Dont bother Frosty, I have some for you. PM me for a price. No velvet though. They are reproductions from archeological finds in Louisbourg. I forged some for me to add to my (beginning and tehrefore small) collection of utensils and objects from the Nouvelle-France era.

 

Edited July 1, 201511 yr by yves
bad link

'Round these parts crosses are a common wedding gift, there is a particular kind called a "Wedding Cross" that incorporates two rings into the cross.  I've never made one myself, but I'm attaching an example that I have saved in my "someday" file. 

I would think those manacles would be easy to escape from, all you need to do is push the pin out.
Think they had a lock or something else along with them?

Will the wedding couple be using a wedding candle (or candles?) Some ceremonies have a candle for each family, then the bride and groom use them to light a larger center candle showing the joining of the families.
You could make a holder for one (or all 3) of the candles. (Maybe one unit with 3 holders together?)

I wasn't thinking serious restraints I was thinking something more symbolic and possibly recreational.

Those wouldn't be too hard to keep people from slipping out of by driving the wedge in hard enough they'd need a hammer to knock it out. If bad guys did that I'd put two wedges on the inside of the manacle next to a wrist.

Frosty The Lucky.

A triangular dinner bell could be both decorative and useful. No more hollering, just ring it when dinner is ready. 10 inch sides for family, 20 inch sides for family and neighbors. (grin)

I would think those manacles would be easy to escape from, all you need to do is push the pin out.
Think they had a lock or something else along with them?

This pin is pounded in with a hammer. You cant push the pin out. And if you would have tried to, the guards would have heard you and would then have shortenend the chain between your manacles and your leg irons. Uncomfortable.

Traditionally such things were riveted together and a trip to the blacksmith was needed to remove them.

The term "striking off their chains" was more than poetry at one time.

Edited July 1, 201511 yr by ThomasPowers

A triangular dinner bell could be both decorative and useful. No more hollering, just ring it when dinner is ready. 10 inch sides for family, 20 inch sides for family and neighbors. (grin)

Good idea Glenn! How about combining the two, triangular dinner manacles? formal dining for the captive spousal unit. 

Frosty The Lucky.

How about a ball and chain.

How about a ball and chain.

That's the spousla isn't it?

Frosty The Lucky.

lol ya.I bet it it would make a great gag gift at the bachelor party though.

Haha the wife just suggested a chastity belt . Thats why shes a keeper.

 

Haha the wife just suggested a chastity belt . Thats why shes a keeper.

 

It was for YOU!   <sheesh>

Frosty The Lucky.