Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for attaching forging handles in the nature of studs to metal billets. The billets are passed in end-to-end relationship through a furnace following which the heated billets are individually delivered to a welding station where a welder welds a stud to the billet. The welder includes a welding head which is shifted by a translation mechanism from a feeding position where studs are successively fed to the welder to a welding position in which the stud is brought into engagement with the billet and electrical current is delivered through the stud to produce the weld.

Abstract: A conveyor for removing billets from an induction heating furnace and for separating them from following billets to which they may have become adhered employs a roller having a contoured surface. The roller is rotatably mounted about an axis skewed relative to its central axis so that it wobbles as it rotates, imparting a reciprocating force on the billet to separate it from the following billet to which it is adhered.