bluerooster

The blower is a Champion. and the firepot is one I made, to replace the shallower one that I made. I had gotten used to the 3" depth of my old firepot, and the new 4" deep one will take some getting used to. One thing happened that I'd never experienced until now. After working for a while, I noticed the tuyre was getting hot, red hot. After some investigation, I found that the air inlet had a ledge of sorts, (despite my best effort to make it flush) which managed to catch a chunk of hot coke, which then invited all it's friends to join him. Thus ending up with a plug of burning coke in the tuyre. I opened the ash dump, and a little came out. But the plug was still there. So, I shut down for the day, and will deal with it later. End result; That old worn out Champion blower is way better for air control than my hairdryer with wastegate. And a 3" deep fire pot is a bit more versatile than a 4" deep fire pot. I can have a 3" deep useable fire, or a 6" deep useable fire, depending on how I mound, and work the fuel with the 3" fire pot. Another thing I learned is this: do not build you fire pot with the grate above the bottom of the pot. I believe that is where my blockage problem came from. What had happened (I think) is fine coke got below the grate, thus heating the grate, with plenty of air to burn it out. chunks fell through, and got caught on the ledge, then subsequent chunks got caught amongst the ones that fell through before. Thus filling the tyure with hot coke. Put the grate on the bottom of the pot. Whether it's 3" or 20" deep. Don't just raise the grate to make the pot shallower. It doesn't work.

Got the blower hooked up to the forge with the new firepot. And played with it some. Found that the new deeper firepot will take some getting used to. Amazing how much difference an inch can make. I love the blower. (sure beats the hairdryer) I can control the air simply by how fast I crank it. Now on to the down side. Later on the fire wasn't getting hot, but the tuyre sure was. Never had that happen before. Opened the ash dump, and a small dab came out. But still no air, and tuyre still turning red. I got it sussed, the problem came about when s chunk of coke fell past the grate, and got caught on the air inlet. (when I installed it, I tried to keep it flush, but ended up with a kind of ledge on the bottom) Well, that chunk of coke invited some of it's friends, who were glad to join him. End result was hot coke plugging the tuyre, and what happens when you add air to burning coke? It gets hot, and makes the tuyre glow red. I shut down for the day. I'll deal with that trouble at a later date. The firepot never got "hot" (of course it was warm, black hot). The old one never got hot either. Didn't even burn the paint off the outside. But that old Champion blower is the "Cat Daddy". (compared to my hairdryer) I kinda like my 3" firepot over the 4" firepot. With the 3" I can make the fire as deep as I want by mounding it. With the 4" I have an optimum depth, But it will take some getting used to, after working with a 3" pot.

Solid bar is heavy, and if not large enough will sag under it's own weight. Tubing is lighter, and for same OD, and span, and will sag less. 4130 thin wall tubing of about an inch, or inch and a half should do the job nicely, and won't weigh much at all. Then you can fire up the forge, and make finials, and hangars for it.

more to do with wood, but a friend carves ducks, (decoys) "It's easy. just cut away anything that doesn't look like a duck".

Haven't done much at the forge lately. Been knee deep in head gaskets on an ML320. Ended up with a "day off" from it today, so I broke down the forge, and installed the new firepot. Now I need to make up a sturdier stand for my "new" (old) Champion blower. I have a plan for that. And may do it tomorrow. JD, for a first ever hook, that's a nice one. I like the twist too. Now get to work makin' more, that anvil ain't shiny enough.

I liked that video. I'll have to give it a go.

Stopped at the flea market today to get a pic of the Buffalo 2E but the guy wasn't there. But all is not lost, and picked up a Champion that works, from another guy. And for cheeper.

Thanks for the info. The motor on the unit in question is way different from the motor in the thread posted. Puts me in mind of a GE washing machine motor.

55 gallon drum makes a fine hood, another mabe 30 gallon for a flue pipe. and yer good to go. You can mount the 55 to the hearth, and cut an opening to acess the forge. Here's what I have, and it works well to draw the smoke up and out.

I like that welding table. I want one now. Sure beats my old wood table by far.

Was at the flea market last week and came accross a blower. A Buffalo 2E. The impeller and housing appeared intact, motor is seized and no speed control. Guy wants $100 U.S. Is it worth it? Pretty much just the impeller, housing, and motor mount. No stand. I didn't think about getting a picture. But will tomorrow.

GMAW is just fine if done properly. But as you mentioned, it's too easy to make a pretty bead that doesn't hold.

Thomas, you're right, the chrome did present a problem. But I did manage to get it to stick together except one end that simply refused. I figured I'd sacrifice that end, It's to be a pocket knife anyway. I drew it out and folded it, got that welded, and that's when the wheels fell off. As I was drawing for the second time, I noticed cracking throughout the billet. I don't know how deep the cracking went, but the chunk of steel is pretty much worthless now, so I decided to play with it for a minute. I drew out to about 3/8x3/8, and put a twist in it. That showed me all the flaws. Everywhere there was a crack, it opened right up. I dropped it into the "bucket of shame", put the fire out, and went to the house. And so goes it in the life of a beginning smith.

Sounds like you feed your cats too much.

What about cooling tongs, and punches, and watering the coking coal?

JHCC; I did. And the chrome may present an issue. But the contrast should be awesome. I've had good success welding it to it's self in the past. But this will be the first time trying welding to a 10xx. I'll try almost anything, once.

Wearing sneakers, I was gas welding a rear body panel in a Mustang. Moved the torch to hammer the weld, and saw a flash out of the corner of my eye. I had directed the torch at my shoe, and set it ablaze. With both hands full, (one with hammer, and one with torch) I was forced to stomp it out with my other foot. That was 1985, I have not worn sneakers since. Ever. All my clothing is 100% cotton, and boots are leather. No more plastic clothes for me. As to welding, and grinding. I've had hot stuff jump into my shirt, down my pants, in my ear. Welding overhead while laying on your back, can teach you all kinds of new dance moves.

I have a can of brazing/welding, good for brass and steel commercial flux. But thought about making some anhydrous borax. I have plenty of borax, and a pot to melt it in. But I'm open to suggestion. Nice work Alexandr. :D

Spent a couple hours at the forge today. Thought about trying my hand at pattern weld. I don't know if this will work, but I'll give it a go anyway. I have a chunk of 52100 (bearing race), and a bar of mud flap hanger, (presumably 1060-1080). I figure I'll attempt to mate the two into a billet and see what happens. Pic 1 is the 52100 that I started with. Second is the flap hanger ready to form a billet with attached handle, and the 52100 drawn down and squared up. Third is the billet cleaned, stacked, and wired together, ready for welding. Tomorrow, I'll clean out the forge, and see if I can bang 'em together. Had another chunk of bearing race that decided it wanted to become a hawk bill blade. I've gotten it to the point where I'll grind from there. It will be a small blade compared to the size of stock. So I can save a piece for something else.

Put my hand crank leaf blower, blower project on hold, and fired up the forge. Made the second half of tongs, got it punched and fitted to the first half. I still need to draw out the rein on the one, and weld rein to the other. I made it short. (didn't allow enough stock) Oh BTW, Great work, all of yall. Mabe when I'm 83 I'll be able to do that.

Wanted to work at the forge this weekend. But power went out Thurs. at 5am, and has been off until today about noon. No power, no blower. I did set about the task of fabricating a hand crank blower from an old leaf blower. I got it well underway. Just lack a reduction gear, for the crank.

As mentioned before, I would probably clay up to the cut out, then scoop out a depression at the grate. You can mound the fire, to get it as deep as needed. And can easily rake the fuel into, or out of, the fire.

It's $30 for a 50 pound bag at the farrier supply. Only place local to get any. But at least it's sometimes clean and not too much clinker.

I was going to ask about Mesquite. It's a weed where I come from, and must be eradicated at all cost. It burns hot in the stove, as fire wood, and will dull a new chainsaw in a cut or two. It is quite dense, so I suppose it must be turned into charcoal slowly, and in small chunks.

A most excellent video. enjoyed watching it. I like watching someone work who knows what they are doing. The one camera is pretty neat, it follows your every move, even when you crank the blower. :D