Simple, make the ring 1/8 small. Roll to shape and butt weld. Dress with a grinder and heat with a rose bud acetylene torch . Set
in place and let it cool. No smoke, no noise and no problems.
Steve

"J. Clarke" wrote in message ...
Working on a decorative wagon wheel in wood, but I'd really like to put a metal tire on it. Now, that's no trick if it's just
for looks--make a steel ring that's close enough to the dimension that a little epoxy under it will hold it, but the devil in me
wants to do a proper job and shrink the thing.

Trouble is that this is a no-burn area so I can't just light a fire in the back yard and heat the tire.

So, any ideas on how to go about this? The wheel is 2 feet in diameter, making the tire too big to fit in a barbecue or the
like. If I was making a bunch of 'em I'd be tempted to just build a charcoal pit big enough and call it a barbie, but that's a
lot of work for one wheel.

And yeah, I know I can find a blacksmith, but I'm more interested in the making than in having a wheel.