BackyardBlacksmithin Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 So I was working on designing a side draft hood for my mobile forge and came up with this. I spend under $2 on the bucket and aluminum duct, cut a big hole in the bucket and cut out an opening in the side and here you go. It just sits on the table and you can fine tune its location to whatever you like. Even used the piece I cut out as a sort of adjustable overhang. And I gotta say it works really well. So all you out there that are in my position of limited time money and resources here is an idea for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 That's the kinda thinking I like to see! Very ingenious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BackyardBlacksmithin Posted November 9, 2013 Author Share Posted November 9, 2013 Its about as ugly as you can get but dang it sure beats breathing all that coal smoke! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 to my eye it has the beauty of utility, simplicity and ingenuousness! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metalsmith21 Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 I believe that Runion the smith put it best; an object made that does its job is beautiful because it does the job it was designed to do, even if an object was gold plated and encrusted with jewelry but can not function the way it is supposed to it would be ugly in mine eyes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacques Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 Suddenly I've got a tiny little project for tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Yates Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 I really love the post vice set up shoot a photo of it please . Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Coke Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 Greetings Backyard, I won't be putting that style of hood on my bucket list so to speak.. I sure applaud simple and functional.. Good thinkin.. Forge on and make beautiful things Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 Oh, and just in case anyone's wondering..... and you never really know with people nowadays.... You don't want to use a plastic 5gal bucket for the "hood". Trust me, it won't work as well as you might like! BB, as I said before, I think it's great. Of course, now that I'm looking at it, I wonder how it might be dressed up to become more than just a metal pail. I keep thinking back to Jesse James' forge hood and how he's got it really tricked out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BackyardBlacksmithin Posted November 10, 2013 Author Share Posted November 10, 2013 Sam: here is a better picture of my vise. Its an old semi-truck brake drum, some heavy plate on the bottom welded to some I beam and more plate on the top. Since the picture was taken I have added a lip around the top plate to keep tools from rolling off, and some hammer loops on the sides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Backwoods Blacksmith Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 Good thinking. Looks good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BackyardBlacksmithin Posted November 10, 2013 Author Share Posted November 10, 2013 Thanks everybody, the only problem with it so far is that its kinda top heavy and if you get a decently strong gust of wind it wants to fall over. So I think I'm going to have to rig something to hold it down to the table. I have some small diameter cable laying around so maybe rig it with a spring and some eye bolts to the table or side rail of the forge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacques Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." I only had a 3 ft piece of chimney lying around and we always have lots of empty paint tins. The result were very good. A bit windy today, so there were some smoke blown sideways but at periods all the smoke went up. I am now very keen on a decent chimney, I never thought it would make such a difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BackyardBlacksmithin Posted November 10, 2013 Author Share Posted November 10, 2013 Awesome glad it worked for you. I was a bit apprehensive when I made mine but I was very surprised how well it worked. Especially considering how easy it was to make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigcity Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 How well does your post vice stay put with the brake drum? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BackyardBlacksmithin Posted November 11, 2013 Author Share Posted November 11, 2013 The vise actually works quite well. If im doing some heavy twisting or something like that sometimes I have to put my foot on the rim and lean into it a bit but other than that I really like it. Everything in my shop has to be mobile so I can have a permanent spot for any of my tools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Yates Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 Very Cool Set up on the Post Vice . I been looking for ideas for a new way to mount mine up. Thank you Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 Excellent side draft hood! Even a piece of stove pipe suspended a few inches off the table a little behind or beside the fire will work surprisingly well. I'm very much a functional is beautiful guy and that's a BEAUT. Well done. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BackyardBlacksmithin Posted November 12, 2013 Author Share Posted November 12, 2013 I will def build a nicer hood once I can move to a spot that I can have a permanent area to smith, but for now with my overcrowded garage and limited work space I think this will be just the ticket to avoid coming in the house covered in soot and pissing off the girlfriend.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mslisaj Posted April 19, 2014 Share Posted April 19, 2014 Very interesting idea. The five gallon bucket would overwhelm my little Buffalo Forge pictured here but then we move down the tread and I find one from a paint can. Now that is a more doable size. Then I'm thinking maybe a 10" high shield running horizontally about a third of the way around the fire pan to add that wind protection and this may work really well. Also that "wind skirt" rived to the can would add some stability to this side draft chimney. Something to build and try. For us that have to work outside it's like a BBQ, no matter where you stand the smoke comes toward you. Thanks, Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmall Posted April 19, 2014 Share Posted April 19, 2014 With respect to the post vise set up, I know a fella that welded a 2X3 foot section of 3/8 plate on the bottom so when he was working on the vise, he was standing on the platform which helped to hold the vise in position as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Posted April 19, 2014 Share Posted April 19, 2014 Great idea and then price is right! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dabbsterinn Posted April 19, 2014 Share Posted April 19, 2014 one thing that worries me a bit, it might be a good idea to get the paint off the buckets before firing up, it probably gives off some nasty fumes when burning off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted April 19, 2014 Share Posted April 19, 2014 The five gallon bucket would overwhelm my little Buffalo Forge pictured here Fill your forge with fuel. Your running it way too lean from my experience. You may want to try to reverse the rim to see which side works better as a forge. Your chimney is suggested to be 10-12 inches in diameter. That can be the inside shell of an old hot water tank, 5 gallon buckets welded together, or even a sheet of roofing tin rolled into a tube and screwed or riveted together. Secure the bottom and top so it does not slide out or topple over. The idea is to get the smoke out of the work zone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LastRonin Posted April 20, 2014 Share Posted April 20, 2014 Glenn Posted Today, 02:56 PM ... You may want to try to reverse the rim to see which side works better as a forge. ... I believe she cut the other side off of that rim, so she'd need to cut up a second rim... or maybe weld a strip of 1/8" flat around the edge of the rim she has in there to raise the edges to a better height? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.