cuda

Yea, the drum was mounted like that when I bought it. What size and kind of hearth do I need for this? I was thinking of making something out of diamond plate steel and putting the grate on top. Should this work or do I need a cast iron firepot ? Any ideas? Do I need the coal fire below the hearth a few inches? If so, how's the best way to do this?

Trying to upload pics of the forge...looking for recommendations for a firepot and hearth to connect to the base. Will a steel table with the cast iron grate mounted on the top work or will I need to use some sort of firepot mounted to the base of the forge where the 3 holes are at and then build a hearth level with the top of the firepot? What thickness of steel would be the best?

I'll try to get some pictures up. I think what I may have is a rivet forge.

I posted earlier with the Buffalo Forge blower problem. It's now turning free. My question now is what size of table would be needed. I'll probably just be doing small stuff but would like to have enough room. The blower is mounted on the original frame and I have the cast iron grate. The original table is missing. Do I need a fire pot? A drop-in type fire pot from what I've seen wont fit the forge. Would some 1/4" diamond plate sheet steel with the grate bolted to the top work. There are 3 mounting holes on the base just outside the air outlet that the table and grate mounts to. I think this is the only support for the table. I've tried looking at other pictures and can't find anything on this type of forge. The blower and frame is made by Buffalo Forge and stands on four legs all bolted close together at the top and turn out at the bottom. Sorry about the long post.

I finally got the blower unstuck , now I am soaking it in oil this time. I think I will go ahead and clean the forge stand and blower up and paint it since I have gone this far. After the two day soaking in diesel and brake fluid I decided to try just a little pull on the blower shaft with a pipe wrench to see if it would move any at all. It started to turn so I slowly worked it back and forth while spraying oil on it. It seems to be good to go now. I'll continue to soak it in oil while I get the rest of the forge cleaned up and ready to paint. Thanks to everybody for the help and advice!