Irondragon Forge ClayWorks

The way I make my bands is to measure the circumference, then just bend each end about a 90 degree bend so I have about a three inch gap between the ends with the holes drilled or punched. A nut & bolt to tighten them up and they are good to go after cutting the sharp corners off or bent over. Sorta like this. (an artist I'm not) I made one once a long time ago out of a piece of chain and a turnbuckle, which worked ok too.

I always make bands out of old wine barrel bands. I think they are about 12 or 13 gauge. I think 13 would work fine.

Yep, Corn Maque Choux my Grandmother fixed it with shrimp real comfort food.

Do you have the missing part of the rim? If you do a welder, versed in welding cast iron, could weld/braze it back in and weld up the crack. A strap & clay would complete the restoration.

Welcome to IFI. I'm sure the folks with propane connection experience will be along to answer your questions. In the mean time I suggest reading this. READ THIS FIRST See that we were posting at the same time. Now if we only knew where in the world you are located it will help answering a lot of other questions. If you do use quick disconnect fittings make sure they are rated for propane, air hose connections will not work for long before leaking.

If the bottom of the pan is where it's rusting through, I would get a piece of plate about the same thickness and shape it to cover the rusted portion and bolt or weld it to the original pan. Hard to tell how rusted it is from the picture with it full of coal, but the top edge doesn't look too bad. If it's just some small holes put a layer of clay over them.

Of course it counts and it is a real anvil, just not a London Pattern and you have a hardy hole to make a bick to act as well as any horn.

Make a wagon tongue sticking out from the end of a sturdy bench.

Welcome to the insanity, just remember, we love pictures that don't violate the TOS. Without pictures it didn't happen. The best advice I have is to find a club/group near you and attend some meetings, you will find a bunch of crusty old folks like me to help you out. Pretty sure we have members in your area close enough to visit.

Here is most of the collection, several flat wick lamps are mounted on the walls not pictured. Please excuse the dust ( haven't messed with them in a long time. The one on the left is a model 11 and the right one is a model 23 the shades are newer similar ones. The next three pictures are in the bed room. The rest are downstairs in the "dungeon"

It's too bad someone ground off a portion of the name.

https://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/63465-forge-floor-materials/

I saw a special on that, I think it was National Geographic, where a team actually were able to "walk" a full scale model of the MOA. If I remember right they walked them for hundreds of yards, really fascinating. Kinda like one person walking a very heavy anvil on a stump stand. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjhkpXk9LXkAhVaFzQIHc6vD7oQwqsBMAJ6BAgIEAw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DJ5YR0uqPAI8&usg=AOvVaw18Jwx0rQT1EwvH_5xjuxnc

Welcome... Also pictures of the condition and where in the world you are located are needed to even guess at value. I always suggest reading this to get the best out of IFI. READ THIS FIRST

I have one just like it a model TX-750 bought new in 1960, has been going strong since and accompanied us on many camping trips with the kids. The Aladdin lamp in the background is the standby main light lamp, from the last light house I was stationed on. It was given to me in Jan, 1968, the day I left, by the last civilian light house keeper employed by the U.S.C.G. Because the light house was being automated and no longer manned. It's a NU MODEL 13, the shade I added later and it's the lamp I use most in the kitchen (please ignore all the junk around it) when I light it that stuff is moved. I just noticed the picture on the TV in the background is a syfy movie that my wife is watching.

He is a handsome fella and something has his undivided attention.

Jim that's a very impressive collection. I got to thinking about how the smithy would have been lighted before the wide spread use of electricity, beside the fire from the forge. I imagine the more affluent shops might have used Aladdin Lamps or Lanterns. I will try and get some pictures later of my collection (which is spread out).

I don't know Chris Aladdin Lamps can become addictive, like hammering hot steel. Are you ready for another habit?

I have 15 working Aladdin's in my collection, most with their shades. they are scattered all over the house along wit a bunch of antique flat wick lamps. I use them in the winter for ambiance and the heat they will produce, up to 4,000 BTU's. When running them (even a couple) there has to be adequate ventilation to off set the CO produced and so they have enough oxygen to burn properly. In the old days the houses were so drafty ventilation was not a problem.

Yes, a well trimmed lamp wick and good mantel will equal a 150 watt incandescent bulb. There are a lot of online sellers of the lamps & parts including fleabay.

You can still buy them new at most good hardware stores. At one time I collected antique lamps, until I ran out of room to put em. Became interested in them when I was in the Coast Guard and the light house I was stationed on used an Aladdin lamp for emergency light in the main rotating beacon.

I tried to reglue the tires on my wood cutting bandsaw to no avail, every adhesive I tried failed after running a while. I finally broke down and bought new tires and installed them. I was surprised to see how much smaller the new tires were in circumference compared to the old ones (really had to stretch them over the wheels) and the new directions stated not to use any adhesive. Been working fine now for several years.

I had the same problem with stones. Not because of the supply but I had about 150 pounds of coal in sacks that fell apart and the area is loose gravel so when I shoveled it up I got a lot of stone too. I don't think the stone is causing clinkers, but the quality of the coal itself. When I used that coal I lined the hearth with the green coal and picked out the stones before raking the coal to the fire to start it coking. Even when some stones made it into the fire, the clinker problem was no worse than usual which is very low.

Great picture. One would think the smith would be wearing some sort of apron though. The Roman's were very smart and it wouldn't take many hits by hot scale to have him invent the apron.

Chipping is using a cold chisel to cut away metal like weld blobs (as opposed to grinding) or cutting channels like key ways, other folks may have a better explanation. This from google.