JimsShip

Wow Rusty, is that all your work? That's amazing! I don't think i'd ever be able to create something that grand. If that doesn't help the kid out, I don't know what will. No machine can ever do all that!

My father a tinknocker by trade (sheet metal fabrications, ect.) said the same thing about his trade, but he had an excellent theory- "The trade only dies if people stop doing it." He also knew that he could make anything better than a machine, and that the human touch was essential especially when making things for older houses not entirely perfect. Off the rack products fit off the rack houses, but for the older places you need to customize. Also you may want to tell him it's a hobby for now, and not a career that way he may be a bit more comfortable knowing you're not putting all your eggs in one basket. Good luck!

I just got this exact forge w/ blower at a barn sale. Do either of you have pics of the finished restorations, and/or the firepot additions?

I never knew ACME actually made anvils, Does it say ACME on the other side? I always thought it was a fictional Wile E. Coyote thing! Now I really kind of wish I had one! :rolleyes:

That is one strong guy in that pic! Imagine doing that for 10 hours a day. Hey- one more question- Is there a way to tell how old an anvil is? (and please, no "count the rings" jokes!) My wife's grandfather had this one and she was wondering how old it was, and if it was possibl his father had it before him. The pictures of it can be seen here. I'm hoping tht G (or C) at the bottom may mean something.

Thomas, when you're right, you're right! That hole doesn't go all the way through! I couldn't fit my fat finger in there so I assumed it went all the way for mounting. (Although I can't imagine how they'd be used comfortably for handling!) I love this site, and this hobby. Not a day has gone by in the past 2 months I haven't learned something. OK, I'll cut some wood to match the footprint of the anvil and chain it down as i've seen before. One more thing- the log is nice and heavy and solid (not sure what kind, but the logger friend of the family says it's hardwood) but it has a crack the length of the log about 1/2 inch deep in from one side. I was thinking I should band it around the top, middle and bottom just to help support it in the coming years. Any tricks or suggestions on what the best way to do this would be? Thanks again -Jim

Hey all, I just wanted to run this by everyone to see if this is the best (and safest) way to secure my anvil to it's log base. My anvil has a 1 inch square hole in the bottom about an inch and a half to two inches deep. I was going to drill a similar hole in the stump to place a piece of pipe or something to set the anvil on. (It will not actually be setting on the pipe, but this is just to keep it from drifting off center) Then theres a similar squared hole going through the base of the anvil left to right, that I was going to make a strap that would slip through and bolt down on either side. Would that be enough? Am I at risk of cracking the anvil be securing it this way? I've read several suggestions using chains, and staples (and even adheasives) but no one has ever mentioned these holes before, and this being my first anvil, I just figured that's what they were there for. Thanks for your input. -Jim

Anyone know what the G (C?) at the bottom means?

I apologize if I passed along any misinformation, but so far everyone i've mentioned my new hobby to has warned me of doing anything with galvanized metals and the dangers of fume fever, so I was just trying to pass what I thought was good information along. In Paw-Paw's last post he himself blamed his demise directly to the accident, and although I did hear he had asthma, I didn't know he had COPD. Consider my hand slapped, and my lesson learned. In the future I will keep my posts on the question side and leave the answers to the experts. Mod: Since you have learned your lesson, then you may take off the pointy hat and go play with the other smiths again :)

I like the swivel stool, that's an awesome idea.

Hey Smokey- Welcome to the site and the new hobby/addiction! I'm new to both as well, but I have learned enough in my short time here to know that you really need to stay away from anything galvanized. A wash tub would be too big for a fire pan anyway, if you want to make your own I would suggest using the excellent brake drum forge plans found here. While learning all the different tricks of the trade, I became fond of the writings of a man named Jim "Paw Paw" Wilson, only to be saddened to hear he had died recently from exposure to fumes from working with galvanized pipes. (You can read about about him here. ) and I for one will take his hard learned lesson as a rule never to be broken. Have fun, and be safe. Mod addition: Nothing wrong with the wash tub forge idea, also Jim had other serious health problems, while we admit that zink is a danger, he was not killed by the zink. Jim Wilson, to the best of my knowledge, did not die due to breathing zinc fumes (zinc oxide). Jim had COPD* and I have seen first hand his impaired breathing. It is my non-medical opinion that the exposure to zinc fumes further weakened an already impaired respiratory system and pneumonia set in. From the zinc exposure to the time of death was about 2 weeks. Although, as best I can tell, zinc did not cause his death, the zinc fumes and COPD were, most likely, the primary contributing factors. Yes it is splitting hairs, but as best I can tell, zinc fumes (inhalation of zinc oxide) causing death is not correct. I can find no articles to support a build up of zinc in the body (heavy metal poisoning) from inhalation of zinc fumes (zinc oxide). If you can provide me with a URL, please do, as I would be most interested. His shop had a lot of ventilation being open on the sides., While warning others is encouraged, the spreading of rumor and myth as so-called fact is not. see more about zink here http://www.iforgeiro...oxic-compounds/

Thanks all! I have no intention of selling this, it was gifted to me by my in-laws, (it was my wife's Grandfather's) and I hope to pass it to my son someday, I just wanted to know how much to insure everything for in case of trouble. (I'm starting to feed a lot of money into this new hobby!) Thanks for the Transmission fluid tip, I'll try that.

Thanks Thomas. I wanted to do that but the tuyere is so raised in the middle I was afraid I'd lose all side space trying to get the botom flush with it. (Not to mention burying that bolt! I'm already a bit concerned i buried all the screw heads that hold the blower on!) As far as the noise, everything is running clear of itself it's just a bit of play in the works I think. I've never had one so this may all be normal. Thanks for the brick idea, i'm going to do that!

Here are the pics of the finished restoration! What do you think? I was worried that the sand/cement lining took too much space in the pan (I was told to try and get it close the bolt) but I think it's better to be safe than sorry. I'd rather work in a shallow pan than crack the forge. Now all I need is some coal...

I think it says 1 - 0 - 18, with a C at the bottom. (The first 1 looks a bit strange, maybe a mis-stamp?) What can anyone tell me about this? Should I treat it somehow, maybe oil it up? Whats it worth? Any help will be appreciated. Thanks, -Jim

Hey Chris- Thanks for the input, I'd love to see pics of your forge. I like that i'm now a Google search! (I couldn't find another like mine!) Actually I just finished restoring it, and I did simply clean up the bushings and put them back on with a new spring. (I think it was at one time one piece, maybe to protect the bar, but after I trimmed the uneven middle section off I noticed it was working fine as 2 separate sides, so I went with it.) This thing makes a hell of a racket, but seems to move a lot of air! I'll post pics tomorrow in this thread, and will definitely measure the gear for you. The crank wheel pin should be easy enough to replicate, I'm not sure about the small gear though. Funny thing about the pin legs, I knew it had them at one point, but I didn't realize you needed them to run the forge or the small wheel that turns the paddle hits against the table surface, (Grrrr! It took me so long to figure out that's why It would work on it's side but not standing up!) So I simply put some small lengths of black pipe with bolts to raise it a bit. (Longer pipes seemed to make it wobbly and unstable.) Welcome to the site by the way, and please feel free to ask me for any help you may need. The folks here have been more than kind in helping me get started and I'm happy to do the same for you!

I've finished restoring my little forge and am getting ready to fire it up for my first "at home" project. I found I can buy either coal or coke online, but I'm not sure which to get, since I'll be working outside my garage in a residential area and want to try and keep the smoke to a minimum so my habit/hobby doesn't get shut down just as it's getting started. Do you think I should just buy the coke already made, or make my own with fresh coal? Maybe a little of both, some coke for the fire and coal on the side?

I love it! Could be used for all sorts of things, maybe a card holder, napkin holder, I also like the candle holder idea.

I was afraid of that. Anyone know the proper name for this part? They must make something like it for for some gear out there, I just need to start looking.

Ok, dissasembly wasn't all that hard. There's no gears or bearings, just the rubber wheel you see in pic #3 that needs to be replaced. (Although it looked like it griped the wheel tightly, you can see it's dried out and split in the center.) It looks like it was originally one piece, held tight by a spring and cotter pin. (I'll try and post a better pic as soon as I find the wifes camera.) The big question is- WHERE DO I FIND A REPLACEMENT? :(

Do you have a link to the ad? I'd love to see it. Does anyone know where I can get blower parts?

Sounds good, i'll keep you posted. On a funnier note, I just Googled "KROL" and came up with a type of vodka, and after further suggestions found KROIL, which I've never heard of. (I wasn't sure if you wanted me to drink the vodka or soak the blower in it!) Is PB Blaster about the same thing, or should I special order some KROIL?

Just on the bottom? I don't need to do the sides? I'm not sure how i'll get the cement that high without burying the tuyere, although looking at the picture I guess I could at least make it flush with it.

I wanted to post this in the "It follwed me home" or Forge threads, but don't know how to attach pics using the reply options, so please excuse the new thread. I just found this litle guy an an old antique barn. I can't find another like it on the web (with or without the ugly home made garbage can windshield!). The pan is 16X12 inches and about 2 and 1/2 inches deep. The center cricle is 6" round. The blower is all jammed up, probably rusted in the bearings (if it has any). I can get everything to turn when using both the large wheel, and the small wheel under it, but not by the large one alone. My hopes are to get this thing apart and replace any parts it may need. So- That being said, where do i find replacement parts for the blower? The rubber grips that grab the small gear wheel will probably need to be replaced. They hold tightly, but it's cracked in the center (see pic), Anyone know what model this may be or what it's worth? The legs have a small opening in the bottom, so I'm assuming I can fit it on some longer legs, or else just work off the back of my truck. Also- assuming I can brush this clean, I'm thinking of painting it with high heat black paint, (with red for the blower and nameplate) Do you think this is a good idea, or should I leave it as it is. (I want it to last, but don't want it to lose value.) Do I need to put clay inside this thing before firing it up? Any help will be appreciated. Thanks!

Awesome! How's you do it??