Jonathan Dracon Michelin Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Hi everyone, i recently aquired a Western star dump truck air brake drum and am interested in making a coal forge out of it, any advice?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Post a picture with dimensions. A good fire pot size is 8-12 inches across and 4 inches deep. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Dracon Michelin Posted October 30, 2011 Author Share Posted October 30, 2011 well the drum is off a westernstar tandem dumptruck its abount a foot deep and around 1 and a half to 2 feet across i do not have any measuring tape and will post a pic shortly after the rain stops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Dracon Michelin Posted October 30, 2011 Author Share Posted October 30, 2011 heres the pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Dracon Michelin Posted October 30, 2011 Author Share Posted October 30, 2011 http://s786.photobucket.com/albums/yy146/jmichelin/ heres the link lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 What a beast! Looks like it would make a good base for something, nice and heavy with a good footprint. As a forge you may want to fill it up with clay so the firepot is manageable. Can you get your hands on a full sized pickup truck brake drum and a piece of sheet metal, like an old steel shelf? That would be a more usable firepot size, and the sheet metal becomes a table around the drum to store fuel on. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pike3e Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 I have a coal forge that was made from an 18 wheeler brake drum that is similiar. The person who made it made the tuyere from 3 inch pipe that extends through the bottom to a depth of about 4-5 inches from the top rim. I just filled the drum with coal fines to the tuyere and added coal from there. I have only used it a few times becuase I usually use propane forges and just got this a month or so ago but it appears to work fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Dracon Michelin Posted November 7, 2011 Author Share Posted November 7, 2011 Yah i can find the other brake drum, the tin is easiest LOL, im thinking of using a pipe like pike3e mentoned, by the way Pike3e could you upload a few pics?? id love to see what size flanfe was used. im thinking of welding a flange on there andmaking a set of strong legs for it for a stand also like you mentioned phile using some mud ( clay) to make a smooth transition like a sloped lining and adding some rebar or a grate to block some air, i have a truck rim forge now, did a test burn and got a 3/8 foot long nail upto a beautiful cherry red, so i think it will be good aswell, ive seen a few of these make into a nice forge but have only seen pics of it b4 it was started, and andvice and pics welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SReynolds Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 I have many of these (used) truck brake drums (11 inches deep and 16.75 inches I.D.) lying around the shop. I have been selling them off as scrap because they are about 75 lbs apiece. Lately I'm thinking of keeping some back for a base. In fact I just recycled one into a base for a (very large) Buffalo Model 21 blower assy. Something that size requires a solid foot print and a cast brake drum of 17.25 inch O.D would fill the bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Dracon Michelin Posted November 15, 2011 Author Share Posted November 15, 2011 Hey SReynolds could you give me some sketches or some pics of your forge?? i have no idea on what i culd do to make this work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SReynolds Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 ...of my forge? Yeah, you may have all you'd like, but I don't use these drums for a forge. I use them as a base for grinders,vises and a big old Buffalo blower unit. If you'd like a picture of that, I can post that up on this site. I am planning a series of photos (for this site) of a rebuild that involves a brake drum base for my Buffalo blower. ............you understand that when I say "base" I mean a literal "base" It is what the blower is mounted to. I need something (very) heavy in which to support a large blower like the Buffalo model 201 blower. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SReynolds Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 The brake drum base for a 201 blower assy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Dracon Michelin Posted December 4, 2011 Author Share Posted December 4, 2011 thats a pretty interesting idea, i think im going to try a forge from mine tho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marksnagel Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 I use a brake drum from a pickup truck. I also have a drum the size of yours and use it for a fire pit in the back yard to sit around with the family on cool nights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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