Starting stock: 6”x1/4”x2” (150x6x50mm) mild steel.
This was the first time I’ve used my swage block since I bought it! I gave it a light sanding to knock off the corners and high spots of the casting, but many of the casting marks still remain, which is why the piece sticks a bit in the swage block.
I also forgot to film a heat or two when doing the final rounding, in order to keep the video short I filmed less than half of the welding heats. To be clear, I only worked 1” (25mm) or so of bar at a time/each welding heat during the forge welds. My hammer face is 1.5” (38mm) so this gave me some overlap/tie in with the previous welding section, producing what will hopefully be a strong weld.
I may make a barrel section to test out of 3/8” (10mm) stock off camera to pressure test as well. This method was as easy to do as the Whitley method, but it does need more refinement to ensure a good weld and aesthetic appearance. The weld this method produces is pear shaped, so more drilling/ reaming will be necessary than the Whitley method (this may also produce an off-center bore) though this may be helped by the use of a mandrel during the welding process. I feel the Whitley method makes an excellent pre-form for an octagonal rifle barrel, and the Skelp method makes a good pre-form for a round Fowler or musket barrel (at least this thin version)
27 сен 2024
