Skelp is a narrow strip of iron or steel used to manufacture pipes, tubes, and gun barrels. It can be made using various tools and machines, such as welding machines and ovens with rollers. Skelp is typically thin and long, and its dimensions depend on its intended use. Modern skelp production methods include the continuous and reversible processes, which are used in mass production. Gun barrels made from skelp are generally of inferior quality and are made using the Damascus method.
In metallurgy, the term skelp refers to pieces of iron or steel that can be forged into long, narrow strips. These can then be folded or made circular, using tools and machines, such as welding machines, irons, or ovens equipped with various types of rollers. Skelp is typically used in manufacturing various types of goods such as pipes, tubes and gun barrels. It is sometimes written as scelp.
It is usually made from a piece of iron that has been selected for its length and thickness. These precise dimensions generally depend on what the skelp will be used for. Its distinguishing feature is that its thickness and width are not very great, in proportion to its length. This is one reason why skelp is known by its particular name and why its specific practical uses distinguish it from other metallurgical materials.
In the old days of skelp making, the iron was heated in a charcoal fire and then hammered into shape. The iron could then also be bent using a jig or an iron. Common contemporary welding methods for turning material into pipe are arc welding and gas welding. In modern mass production, there are many different ways to produce skelp, two of which are the continuous process and the reversible process. These methods are generally used for hot rolling of steel chips.
In the continuous process, a steel slab is placed in a furnace to be heated to an ideal temperature for rolling. The plate is fed into a series of roll holders, where the rolls, as the name suggests, begin to roll the steel. This gives the plate a round shape and reduces the thickness of the steel. Experts generally consider this to be a fast manufacturing method, however it is not economically practical because a lot of mill stands and machinery are required. For this reason, the continuous technique is typically only used in mass production.
The reversible process uses a set of rolls, located in a furnace, as opposed to a set of support rolls. In this method, the skelp is moved back and forth between the reels. This movement continues until it acquires the desired shape. The reversible process is used almost exclusively in mass production.
Skelp is often a term associated with gunsmiths, as gun barrels are sometimes made from the material. However, these barrels are generally thought to be of inferior quality, as they are typically unable to withstand the pressures generated by combustion. The Damascus method of making gun barrels refers to the hammering and forging of the barrel, after which it is wrapped around an iron to form a gun barrel.
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