coachwhip24

The design is not my own, rather a copy from memory of my father's bellows.  I have always used a canedy-otto blower on my forges.  I became feed up with these trinket making blacksmith associations and decided to start up a blacksmith club devoted to making useful tools and implements. No samurai swords, 2 foot long Bowie knives, and no pineapple handles nor key chains.  An authentic williamsburg or 18th century style forge, no power hammers.   I intend for each member to start out with a pile of scrap iron and forge a set of working tools.  So, I needed a set of large heavy bellows, hence the thicker wood.  

                                                                            coachwhip24

I am building a double-lung bellows from 2 x 10s, tongue-in-groove.  Over all dims are 48" x 34", length of top and bottom air chamber center of hinges is 40" x 34".  I am concerned one and one half inch thickness of the top leaf may be too heavy to rise properly.  I know this is a bit late now to think of this, but i would appreciate input on this from other experienced bellows builders. I used jointed 2 x 10 wood to stay authentic.

                                                                               thanks for your input,

                                                                                coachwhip24