Yance

Thanks to all for compliments and comments. I really enjoyed building this, especially since this was my first "major" metalwork project.

Not having anything but a "mental blueprint" and "as you go engineering" I'm well pleased with how it turned out.

3 more days and I get to fire it up again. Hope the weather cooperates.

Looks real good. Nice looking Champion 400.
I'd like to see a picture of the way you have it hooked to the tuyere.
Thanks
Billy

Billy;

I had a piece of 3" vent pipe that had been tapered to go in the tuyere. The flex pipe is slightly smaller than the I.D. of that piece, so it's a good friction fit. In true Redneck fashion I sealed the two together with a couple of wraps of duct tape both th hole the two pieces together and seal the joint.

Been working on this off and on in my "spare" time for 3 or 4 weeks. Finally put in most of an 8 hour day Wednesday to finish 'er up.

The tuyere and clinker breaker came from my Grandfather's forge, then passed to a Great Uncle, next to my Dad (who never did anything with it but a window display), finally to me, along with his anvil and several sets of tongs and other tools.

All the material was found at a couple of different scrap yards where I like to shop. Fire pot looks to be the size for a full size pickup or the like, around 10" diameter X 2 1/2" or so deep. bed is 24"X36" and stands 34" high. I'm 6"4"
and that height looks like it's just about right. Besides, it's a lot easier to make it shorter than it is higher.

Pivoting gates on the sides will allow long pieces to be heated in the middle without having to pile a huge mound of coal in the small round forge I've been using.

The blower is a "spare" Champion 400 a friend had sitting in his storage building. We have yet to come to "terms", he just said "take it and see if it works for you". Well, it works for me, well enough that I burned more metal today than I ever did with the small one.

Now to get back to work on my bell.

Anyone ever notice that this stuff is addictive?

Looking forward to my next day off so I can put in some time making "things" rather than tools and equipment.

Are you implying we delete the list, as its too much trouble to read when we need the information? I didn't read all of it because I have a coal source how about Log-in this one is in Alphabetical order

That's really a GREAT!, easy to use list and many of us owe Glenn a big THANK YOU for the hours he's put in to compile it from all the responses on the "suppliers" thread, sorting the suppliers info from the chit-chat.

I just added another one from the Asheville area.

Thanks Glenn!

In the Asheville, NC area;

Grace Fuel Company, Inc

1490 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, NC 28804-1304

Contact Phone: (828) 252-6401

$13.50 for 50# bag, $306.00/ton. 3/8"X1" size stoker.

I've used this coal and it's good stuff. The lady I just talked to was unsure of its origin but if you ask for Wayne he can tell you.

SW;

First things I'd buy would be a dozen roses and a box of Godiva chocolate for a lady like that. Later you can decide what tools to spend the rest of it on.:)

I went the file route with a couple but now use only broken garage door springs. Have a couple of different diameters. I forge the stock square first, then either spread and scroll or taper and scroll. I've made some double scrolled ends that look right sharp. Don't have a pic of one since they went to friends but it's a small tight full turn, then turned back on itself. The taper makes a "graduated" scroll very easily.

As for charcloth, I've had great luck with old T shirt material. Just cut into rough squares small enough to fit in an Altoids tin, ( have a wire loop around it in case the lid decides it wants to warp open), and toss it over on the "cool" area of my coal forge. There's enough vent because of the hinge cuts that there's no need for a vent hole. Once the flame and smoke stops, just lay it aside to cool. Want a LARGE quantity at one time, just use a (new) quart paint can from Lowe's of Home Depot (after burning off the plastic lining). This one will need a vent hole punched with a fairly large diameter nail like a roofing tack. Keep the nail handy for when the can comes out of the fire.

Thanks for all the replies and info. I only wish I got to use it more than a couple of days a week, but my "payin' job" takes too much time.

Just wondering if anyone had any I-dee what brand anvil this might be.

My tools came from a Great-Uncle in South Central Virginia, Sutart to be exact, by way of my Dad. Uncle Emmet gave the stuff to my Dad probably 35-40 years ago and he never did anything with it. Now it's mine and I'm starting to learn what I can.

I wire brushed the anvil trying to make out the stampings and found "102" on the off side, and it weighs 102 LB. How 'bout that. Under the "102" looks to be the date "1914". There are the remains of a line of letters but I can't make anything out but the last one that appears to be an "S". Can't make out anything on the front, but there are partial numbers or letters.

It rings like a bell and has really good bounce. By the pits I wondered if it could be cast steel.

Any information is GREATLY appreciated.

There's also a pic of my little "shop in the woods".

Tom;

Mapquest shows 6 Woodlawns in TN. Which county is yours?

Didn't mean to be rude, just forgot to sign my first two posts. Now that I found the "Edit Signature" button I took care of that.

Frosty and Tom;

Thanks for the welcome. Think I'm gonna like it here.

Frosty; The strikers are made from .240 dia garage door spring, forged square and oil quenched. Good material, and if you have a local company that installs and services rollup doors you can probably get a good supply.

Tom; When is the Spruce Pine event? It's just over an hour from here, and a pretty drive. Is there a calendar of events posted anywhere?

Just joined up and it looks like I'll have PLENTY of reading material for a while.

Just beginning to try my hand at forgework making a few flint strikers and small stuff.

Looking forward to learning from y'all.

Many thanks to the administrator and moderators for such a fine board.