This is something I learned from Bob Patrick 2 weeks ago at the NTBA Hammerfest.

I have about 3 more demos in mind, utilizing this technique. Tonight we are gonna make a Forge welded Faceted Ball on the end of a piece of 1/2″ round.

We start out w/2 pieces of 1/2″ round. One we an eye on the end of which we will make
into a circle.

You take the second piece of 1/2″ rnd. and insert it into the circle and finish closing the other piece on the face and the step of your anvil. Then I use a hot cutter to cut off the excess of the handle part.

We bring it up to a welding heat, and weld the ring. (This works best when done on the step of the anvil or in a 1/2″ Bottom Swedge if you have one.)

I bring it back up to a welding heat and work the end back into the ring, and the ring we work into a cube. Remember, keep it at or near a welding heat at all times.

If you have it welded correctly, you will have a solid mass in the shape of a cube. Now we want to start knocking the corners down to make the facets and you should end up w/14 surfaces or facets on the end of a 1/2″ rod. Which will look like the pictures below.

I have seen this used on andirons, fireplace tools, finnels, fences, door knockers and a lot of other different applications. Any questions???

Bill what size will you end up with?

You will end up w/ about 1″ and 1/4″ ball or faceted cube. It really works good.

Bill, Why are you using EZ-weld rather than borax?

Tapley, I used E-Z weld on this rather than borax. E-Z weld seems to hold better at a lower temperature for me than Borax.

When forming the cube you said to keep near welding heat how much color can you lose before you need to heat again?

If you get any muddy look at all in your metal, bring it up back to a clear heat, the same color as your fire.

This is a good practice forge weld. It one of the few that I ever get right every time.

Seems like there is a lot of welding going on here. First the ring and then while the end is hammered back and the cube is made?

I plan to do another demo of taking this welded up ball and making it into a flower on the end of a stem. You have to be able to make this ball first.

This sure looks easier than using big diameter rod and upsetting and then drawing it out:-)

Jock, this is a fun Welding project isn’t it??

Yes, it is! (fun)

I forge weld square collars onto fireplace tool handles use a similar method.