[TheForge] Repair job

[Peter Hirst]

I have been asked to repair a pair of antique boot scrapers that an idiot contractor damaged in a sill replacement job.  1719 house with the matched pair nicely leaded into the granite front step.  In replacing the sill, idiot (or worse) contractor cut the boot scrapers off (not quite flush) rather than move the step.  I need to remove the nubs, reweld them to the scrapers and reinstall.  Anyone have any experience with R&R of lead-mounted iron in stone?  I have thought of three ways to do the extraction of the remaining nubs:  (1) vise grips and slide hammer (preferred), (2) stud extractor and slide hammer ( would rather avoid drilling out the original nubs); (3) heat (prefer not to destroy the original lead or risk cracking the stone: they are 3 inches from the edge.

Also, the weld itself seems tricky.   I am inclined to use gas to reattach the nubs:  They must be butt welded and SOLID to retain shape and structural integrity.  Forge weld seems dicey considering the weld is at the point that gets nearly all the stress in use.  Is pure iron filler rod avaialble, or am I ok with ordinary mild steel rod?  One of the scrolls needs to be replaced, but I am ok with a forge weld for that, since its a faggot weld along about a 3" surface.

Any advice  welcomed.  I can post pics if there is interest in this project.

Keziah