How to make spear tine barbs?

[WRD]

I currently in a drafting program and decided to draft up a design for a spear which I'm able to have the toolroom students make the components (handle, base and tines) and the welding teacher is willing to use it as a teaching tool of how to properly align components when welding. My problem is how to have the barbs made or put on? For those out there who have made your own spears can you help me with ideas or suggestions on this? Thanks.

[jentz]

Heat the round stock white hot,Use a sharp chisel 1 inch up from the end smack the chisel and you'll create barbs.Or you can cut a thin barb with a hacksaw then heat and use a chisel to open the barb

[LunkerCity]

When we build a spear, we weld a small piece of flat stock to each and shape it and smooth it out with a grinder. We thought of doing it the way Jentz says, but that does weaken the tines somewhat... not that a tine would break, but thats what we do. Don't know where my bro got the flat, but its like 1/8- 1/4- 1/2" long. Good luck

[jasonmichalski]

A lot of guys make the barbs from masonry nails or a piece of steel and weld it on and grind to shape as most cut barbs are small and will not hold well, I hand forge spears with large cut barbs but it takes some work to get the blank just right before cutting.

[efgh]

The old blacksmiths would make tines that were seperate and then forge welded to a backbone ,or the top of the spear where the handle would be fastened. They used old hay or manure forks and key stock for the tines. to shape the barbs they would cut the keystock or fork tine about 1 in. longer than it needed to be. Then they would heat one end, about 1 1/2 in. of the tine or keystock, when red hot they would stand the keyst. or tine on end, red end up, and srike it with a hammer, this would mushroom out that end, then reheat the piece and rough shape the barb with a hammer, then it was all file and grinder work to the finished tine.

[jasonmichalski]

The old blacksmiths would make tines that were seperate and then forge welded to a backbone ,or the top of the spear where the handle would be fastened. They used old hay or manure forks and key stock for the tines. to shape the barbs they would cut the keystock or fork tine about 1 in. longer than it needed to be. Then they would heat one end, about 1 1/2 in. of the tine or keystock, when red hot they would stand the keyst. or tine on end, red end up, and srike it with a hammer, this would mushroom out that end, then reheat the piece and rough shape the barb with a hammer, then it was all file and grinder work to the finished tine.

that's what I do on the center tine it takes about an hour and a lot more work then it sounds and at red hot it wouldn't do a thing it needs to be yellow hot just under white hot way over red,and when upsetting the red end is always down, not up. Forge welding I haven't mastered so I try to stay away from that, lol!

[Gordie]

I started a stainless steel spear and took the same round stock that I formed the tines out of and heated, flattened formed and then welded to the tines then ground them and then welded again the spots that were low and reground and shaped.

I will post a couple of pics later.

[Dorkfish]

When I made mine I used a piece of round stock and cut a forty five on the end. Then welded that to the tine and than ground it so it was sharp and rounded to the size i wanted

[WRD]

Thanks for the comments, definitely gave me some ideas. Will post a picture when the spear is done. Sounds like I will have to wait a couple weeks to get it thru the tool shop and welding but looking forward to testing it out.

[merkman]

[merkman]

[merkman]

[merkman]

[jentz]

OOFTA ofta those look like a experienced spearer had a union with a angel!!!! Them be nice barbs! can you lead me to a how to? Stainless with nickel rod?

[Gordie]

Still have a bit of work to do on this one but its a start.

[merkman]

OOFTA ofta those look like a experienced spearer had a union with a angel!!!! Them be nice barbs! can you lead me to a how to? Stainless with nickel rod?

Google HIGGINS MARINE METALS LLC

[merkman]

Nice Gordie!!

[cvanderweyst]

My tines are turned to a point on a lathe then I cut small triangles out of 1/4 in stainless plate on the lazer, then tig weld and grind.

[cvanderweyst]

[Walleyehooker]

Nice looking spear. I like the idea of tig welding the tines as a lot of heat doesn't usually help metal hold its strength.

[Gordie]

Nice looking spear. I like the idea of tig welding the tines as a lot of heat doesn't usually help metal hold its strength.

they get hot tig welding too, but there are ways to harden that steel or tips.

Like using kasenit to case harden it.

[jasonmichalski]

Here's a couple hand forged spears I've made, the hammering and heating to non-magmatic red then quenching hardens it, slow cooling makes steel softer.

[WRD]

Dorkfish, I went with your idea with the barbs and here's the spear I designed and had made. The tines go into the head of the spear a half inch, the welded. Same with the handed. Finally I had the spear powder coated. Can't wait to try it out.

[jasonmichalski]

looking good!