Finial attachment

admin

There was a thread a while back about putting finials on pickets by tapping them. It is a good way but slow. I weld them on with a cast iron butter rod or 1st pass rod. I use UTP 85fn rods but have used Allstate #7 and others as well. Finials usually fit loose so when you weld them the weld actually welds into the crack. You can easily grind all the visible weld back off leaving the weld in the crack. I usually only weld two sides as that has always been enough. Some guys just tack them on with wire but they break off very easily that way. Attached Images
Reply:Sometimes there is no place to tap like these medallions and welding is the only way. Cast iron breaks so easily I always weld at least two places opposite each other. I guess it must be strong as my powder coater says I'm the only one who's work he hasn't broke one off of and he's been doing my stuff for years now. Attached Images
Reply:And heres the finished piece, a little stair rail for a patio to go with the antique fencing in the front of the house. Attached Images
Reply:I like it!From the overhead view, I though the flowers were skull and crossbones!