MODERN BLACKSMITHING 77 



HOW TO WELD TIRES 



There are many different ideas practiced in welding 

 tires. One smith will narrow both ends before weld- 

 ing; another will cut the edges off after it is welded. 

 This is done to prevent it from spreading or getting 

 too wide over the weld. I hold that both these ideas 

 are wrong. The first one is wrong because when the 

 ends are narrowed down it is impossible to make them 

 stay together until the weld is taken, especially if it is 

 a narrow tire. The second idea is wrong because it 

 cuts off the best part of the weld and weakens it. 

 Some smiths will split the tires, others will rivet them 

 together. "This is done to hold the tire in place until 

 it has been welded. There is no need of this trouble, 

 but for a new beginner a rivet is all right. 



I shall now give my experience in welding tire, and 

 as this experience has been in a factory where thou- 

 sands of wheels are made yearly, I suppose it will be 

 worth something to the reader. 



When the tire is ready to weld draw down the ends 

 and let them swell as much as they want to. Now let 

 the helper take the end that is to lay on top and pull it 

 towards the floor, the other end to rest on the anvil. 

 This will give that end a tendency to press itself 

 steadily against the lower end. Next place this end 

 on top of the other end. The ends must now be hot 

 enough to allow them to be shaped. You will now 

 notice that the top end is wider than the tire, so is the 

 lower end. The tire is to be so placed that the swelled 

 parts reach over and inside of each other a little. Now 



