MODERN BLACKSMITHING 99 



SLIPSHARE 



We shall now weld a slipshare. When the point is 

 finished hold it to the plow with a pair of tongs while 

 you fit the share. When the share is fitted take the 

 point off from the plow and fasten it to the share with 

 the clamp. As I have said before, there is no need of 

 fastening the share to the landside point with the plow 

 as a guide. If the landside and share are right there 

 cannot be any mistake, and it comes easier to screw 

 them together over the anvil. Now proceed as with a 

 long bar share, and when the weld up at the joint has 

 been taken, fit the share to the plow while hot. Some 

 smiths in preparing the landside point for a slipshare 

 will place the share so that the point is a little too 

 short back where it rests against the end of the plate. 

 This is a bad idea. It is claimed that, in welding, the 

 landside point will swell enough to make it reach up 

 against the plate. This is true, if the landside point is 

 only high enough; but if it is low and you lose a heat 

 in welding, as most smiths do, then your landside point 

 will be both too low and too short. Thousands of 

 shares are made every year that have this fault. 

 Therefore, whatever you are doing have stock enough. 

 It is easy to cut off from the landside while yet hot, 

 but it is difficult to repair if too short. No share will 

 work steadily if the point does not rest right against 

 the plate. 



In blacksmithing, every beginner, and many an old 

 smith, makes the mistake of providing less stock than 

 is needed for the work to be done. It is essential to 



