HP500 Posted January 16, 2017 Share Posted January 16, 2017 I did a search but couldn't find anything that addressed the wall thickness question. I scored these two brake drums for free today. The top one is 11" ID with a 1/8" floor plate thickness. The new looking bottom one is 10" ID but 1/4" floor plate thickness. I'm guessing the thicker one would be the way to go, but is it more important to have a slightly larger diameter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latticino Posted January 16, 2017 Share Posted January 16, 2017 I think that you will find that the typical wisdom these days is that brake drums are a bit too deep to be effective while brake disks are a bit better. Of couse a lot depends on whether you are planning on burning coal or charcoal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HP500 Posted January 16, 2017 Author Share Posted January 16, 2017 I forgot to add that the new looking drum is 2" deep and the large old one is 3" deep. I'm leaning towards burning coal from TCS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 Go with a brake rotor instead. My vintage forge is only around 1" deep. If you need more heat you pile more fuel on. I would also suggest looking into side blast forges. Much simpler to make and no clinker issues with coal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HP500 Posted January 17, 2017 Author Share Posted January 17, 2017 Sounds good, thanks for the info! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B_HOSS Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 My brake drum forge is huge. I don't know the dimensions. I was thinking bigger is better. It certainly is not. I use so much coal its kinda ridiculous. I really didn't realize it for a long time and now its about time for a replacement because its warped and cracking. My advice would be to use the smaller drum or a brake disc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Boy this has been covered so many times here already---that semi drums make for a much inferior forge than regular brake drums for instance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 I use a brake rotor myself. The one I'm using is 2" deep and 8" inner diameter. It has served me well and is still going strong. I like the ones that were rear rotors with the inner being basically a drum for the parking brake. It dosnt have to be that tho. It just seems the wall goes all the way up on them without the fluting on the disc part going through to the fire pot. Tho either should work fine. I'm working with helping a friend build one atm, and will be using one where the fluting does go through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommytaptap Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 12 minutes ago, Daswulf said: I use a brake rotor myself. The one I'm using is 2" deep and 8" inner diameter. It has served me well and is still going strong. I like the ones that were rear rotors with the inner being basically a drum for the parking brake. It dosnt have to be that tho. It just seems the wall goes all the way up on them without the fluting on the disc part going through to the fire pot. Tho either should work fine. I'm working with helping a friend build one atm, and will be using one where the fluting does go through. Can we see any pictures please? thanks- Tom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Just now, Tommytaptap said: Can we see any pictures please? thanks- Tom. The other rotor is just an inch deeper. I'll sometimes swap it in for working thicker stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommytaptap Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Thanks Daswulf those are excellent and most informative. I like the 'eclipse valve' for reducing airflow-consider that tip stolen! I'll be down the car scrappers yard tomorrow for one of those rotors. I also like your counterweighted ash valve too. Cheers. Tom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Glad it helps Tommy. Those tips are free to share as they were freely shared with me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adun Clebr Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Wye fittings can also be used. (Inverted from the way the diagram shows them, of course) Brad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 The issue with that would be ash going into the blower or collecting in the blower pipe. Even with a T fitting some ash can collect on the "shelf" part of the air inlet with the blower off. With a Y fitting it would direct almost half the ash into the blower pipe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HP500 Posted January 25, 2017 Author Share Posted January 25, 2017 Very helpful info, thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 Just remember there are more ways to go. Charles Stevens has a good post on "just a box of dirt" http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/44842-just-a-box-of-dirt-or-a-simple-side-blast-forge/ there are many ways to build a forge. The key is to make something that works and get started. You can always see what works for what You have to work with. Mine works for Me. Crazy Ivan and I have even forged a couple @3lb. Hammers with it, tho the inch deeper pot may have worked better for those. Do, learn, improve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 3 minutes ago, Daswulf said: Charles Stevens has a good post on "just a box of dirt" http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/44842-just-a-box-of-dirt-or-a-simple-side-blast-forge/ AKA the JABOD forge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adun Clebr Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 19 hours ago, Daswulf said: ....ash going into the blower or collecting in the blower pipe... This has not been an issue, but thanks for putting the info out. It hasn't been an issue for me but that doesn't mean someone shouldn't consider it when they're building. Brad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Olson Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 Hey Das. I've got the sister to your fire pot. Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 12 minutes ago, Kevin_Olson said: Hey Das. I've got the sister to your fire pot. Lol How does it work out for you? Looks like it has burned a bit of coal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Olson Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 My guess is about 300 pounds of coal have went through her. It works great for about 3 hours then I have to pull the fire apart and scoop out what i call burning sand because it starts losing heat at that point then put the bigger pieces of still burning coke back in and pile new coal on and back to forging in 2 minutes. I got sidetracked once and buned the end off a 1 1/4 square 1018. So it heats good. I've played with the idea of building something that woud be more self cleaning but would rather spend my time forging then building someting different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 Yeah I have to clean mine here and there when it gets "gunked up" then it's like new again. I can usually get by killing the air and poking it around. I like mine a lot. Eventually I will build another but same thing with me, just want to keep forging. 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.