Grate on rivet forge broke

[pyroguy_3]

I messing around today trying to make my first rivet for a pair of tongs I'm working on and I suddenly noticed my fire was gone after coming back from the anvil. Turns out the inner part of the grate had rusted through. So does anybody know of a place online where I can get a replacement grate? I was also thinking that maybe a drain cover would work? Also contemplating fabricating a firebox to just set on top of the hole and build up around it with lime or refractory clay. Any suggestions? I'll try to get a picture of the grate up soon. Thanks.

[julian]

if you have a welder or know someone who does, you can just weld some steel rods in there, about 5/8" and something as small as 1/4" might work. If you have the drum set up on some cinderblocks (or if you can lift the drum itself off the stand) you could probably put a small charcoal grill grate underneath the drum. My first forge had a grate of two small grill grates under the firepot, and it worked fine. Don't use the grate if it's galvanized.

[pyroguy_3]

[Glenn]

Contact Old Moose or Honest Bob. Honest Bob is currently in the hospital so it may be a while for him to reply.

They work together and have a cast grate that may fit. If you need their email addy, contact me. Quick fix, see BP0333 or BP0133.

[julian]

sorry not sure why I thought you had a brake drum forge; on second thought I would probably stick with welding peices of steel rod into where the grate rusted away to fix it. the charcoal grill grate idea is hard to describe through typing and I don't want to point you in the wrong direction.

[ThomasPowers]

I have used cast iron drain covers in my forge. I have used expanded metal cut and beat to fit---limited use life generally 1-2 days of demo. I have used a plate with holes drilled or slotted into it. I have used a piece of barstock bend in a "W" .

There is only *1* way to do something blacksmithing---and that's *anyway* *that* *works*.

Thomas

[Ten Hammers]

I absolutely used a chinese cast floor drain cover. I used it till it toasted and then some ( many fires and several years ). I replaced the pot eventually with a round pot from Centaur.

[Ten Hammers]

and since we have no edit ( thats ok too .. ) I have also used a piece of 1/2 plate (with 15-20 1/2"holes drilled in it) too. Like Thomas sez, whatever it takes.

[pyroguy_3]

Thanks for all the great answers. I think I'll probably try to find a piece of scrap and drill through it to make a grate. now that I think about it, I know exactly which piece I'm going to use! Thanks again everybody.

[Ed Thomas]

Yes, concur with the round 1/2" plate with 1/2" holes. That is quick and works like a champ for longer than you'd expect. However, if you can cut slots instead, that is better because the holes clog up too easily. Two or three 1/2" slots about 1/2" apart. Doesn't have to be pretty because after a few fires it won't be anyway. One drawback is that clean-out is a bit harder.