Making spurs

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Riley White

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I have a student that wants to make spurs. He doesn’t want to use mild steel but a stainless that will be rust free and etc. I have helped two students in the past but we used mild steel. Could any of you guys make a suggestion of what steel to use and where to get it. Also, it needs to come in a round bar about 5/16”.
 
I just made a pair myself using mild steel and heat colored them a dark blue and they rust much too easily. Stainless is probably a better way to go.

I think I'd want a 400 (410-420 or something) series steel though as you really don't want them to bend easily. I made mine quite a bit heavier than most are being mild steel and I'm still not quite happy with how stiff the bands are. They are fine for riding but if they get something thrown on top of them the right way in the tack box they will bend some.
The problem with stainless for me is I'm not sure about the welding. I have a stick welder that will do it, but so far the rod I have found seems to be for 300 series steels. I'm not sure how well it would weld, and what the finish would look like anywhere you ran a bead :confused:
 
I have welded stainless rod with a MIG welder loaded with mild steel wire(80,000 tensile). TIG is what we are supposed to use. You can get a stainless wire and Argon gas and then weld it with a MIG machine. Another way could be with 7018 as it has a fair amount of nickel in it and seems to hold with some alloys.
 
304 SS is the mild steel of stainless steel it is non hardenable. Is usually tougher and stifffer than the equvalant size of mild steel.

Welding 304 SS use 308 welding rod.
Welding 416SS you can use 410 but it may not match in color. 416 rod should be avaiable from a decent weld supplier.

Do not use 7018 it will not hold, and you will have these rusty looking welds.

You can buy a small lot of barstock from McMaster Carr or MSC if there is no supplier in town.

INfO ON GRADES OF SS
 
FYI - The old California spurs were and still are made from seven pieces - no welding:
A band with two riveted on buttons, the shank is a separate piece that is riveted to the band, and lastly the rowel is attached to the shank with a peened pin.

Doing it this way there is no need to use a welder although you may want to silver solder the shank to the band although I've worn an old pair for years that is just riveted and nary any movement.

Here's a couple of modern pairs made in this fashion (mild steel - browned):
spurs-steib-001.jpg

spurs-draughon-001.jpg
 
How does the browned finish hold up?
I've got some solution left from a rifle I could put on mine if it will slow the rusting down. I suppose that would at least make it an even color instead of the bright red crust they keep getting on the shanks. I'd probably have to fill in the letters where I engraved my name with silver solder or something to make them show up still.
I think I'm going to have to make another pair :D
 
Matt it holds up well especially if you keep them oiled with Ballistol. (waxing them also helps keep them from rusting) Be sure to kill the brown good with hot water and baking soda after applying - if you boil them for about ten minutes in water and soda the color will turn dark blue/black.
 
I thank all of you guys for your help. I have been trying to create some interest in these students for the metals curriculum outside of welding. They can’t hammer out knives or anything similar to a weapon. I have mentioned several things they can do like make spoons, forks, a camping tripod or other stands for the campfire. I have hammered out several things and am usually only limited by my imagination regarding what to make. The spurs idea was a result of such a conversation. The sad part is that school is about over for this year we (the student and I) were planning for next year.

If any of you have an idea for a harmless tool/implement we could make I would love some written ideas or pictures. These kids are in a very small town (this years grad class was 3) (yes 3) and I am trying to instill in them the idea that they could make a living right here if they are motivated enough. After all the Internet and UPS will do all of the work in selling/delivering the products. The $1,000 + a month rent for a shop in the city doesn’t exist out here.
 
Thanks for the tip on the finish and wax. I think I'll try browning them if I get some time. I've got the solution left from a gun and its so easy to use, might as well.

Riley
Are you teaching a shop class?
Maybe you could get them motivated on metal work by making some equipment for the classroom. Have a few kids make a forge. Welding up the body and lining it anyway, you might want to do the gas work yourself. Then they can make some tools for it, forge a pair of tongs, I can make up some plans from the pair I made myself if you want, they are far from the best but they work fairly well and are made from plain old bar stock. Maybe an anvil from a peice of railroad tie, or I beam.
Then once they've made the equipment they might be interested in using it. They could do ornamental work or any number of things like you said. I've seen some really neat stuff made out of recycled horse shoes. You can weld them up as is, or forge them to different shapes. I've seen them used for everything from a stool (they made legs and feet, had a steel seat like antique farm equipment) to sculptures, to hoofpicks.
 
I teach shop, history, PE, Government, and ... That is the way it is in a small town. I have built three forges, the last one in the shop in Vaughn. The first and last were for myself. We probably will build a forge for the school though. The problem is in a small community the kids want a variety of classes but they do not all want the same thing. I can’t teach drafting, welding, and woods in the same period. So I try to get them (or most of them) to agree on what they want. If enough want a class like this they will get it. One year one of my students wanted to make a sculpture of a hawk. It was a metal art project and it turned out very well.

The tools I will copy from my own. I have about ten different tongs. Thank you for responding. And thanks for all the project ideas.
 
Riley - where the heck are you? - sounds great! Cancel that just looked at your profile - well I'm not exactly close but not that far either here in Durango, CO and I see we have buckskinning in common. WAUGH!

Anyway here's a link to a bunch of projects: http://www.anvilfire.com/iForge/index.htm

As an example for your students about how one can make a go of it even in a small town - check out Joe Delaronde's site - http://delarondeforge.com/
Joe is in Glorieta, NM and is world renowned for his Spanish Colonial ornamental iron work including spurs.
 
H
Matt Shade said:
I just made a pair myself using mild steel and heat colored them a dark blue and they rust much too easily. Stainless is probably a better way to go.

I think I'd want a 400 (410-420 or something) series steel though as you really don't want them to bend easily. I made mine quite a bit heavier than most are being mild steel and I'm still not quite happy with how stiff the bands are. They are fine for riding but if they get something thrown on top of them the right way in the tack box they will bend some.
The problem with stainless for me is I'm not sure about the welding. I have a stick welder that will do it, but so far the rod I have found seems to be for 300 series steels. I'm not sure how well it would weld, and what the finish would look like anywhere you ran a bead :confused:
Click to expand...
how big of a welder do you recommend I buy for spur making new and have no idea we’re to start
 
Cameron Pritchard said:
H

how big of a welder do you recommend I buy for spur making new and have no idea we’re to start
Click to expand...

316 Stainless is the steel of stainless steel kitchen sinks.

It is available in many shapes, including TIG welding rod which makes nice pin stock.
I'd either go with the no weld rivet idea, or prep it and take it to a TIG welding pro.

Or use nice stainless steel screws, make it so they accent the piece.
 
Welcome Cameron.
This is a 16 year old conversation. It is not a good idea to resurrect old threads. Best to start a new one if you need more info.
 
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