Hayden H Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 As the title above says I have either a Champion or Buffalo forge table without a firepot, its got the holes for a pump-crank blower. I have no need or desire of finding, or manufacturing a crank blower. Its a true forge table 30 some odd long and about 2 1/2 feet wide with the hole for a circular fire pot. Cast iron weighs close to 90 lbs has a raised lip with 6 bolt holes to mount the firepot. If I fabbed a firepot out of scrap, quarter or 3/16ths plate would it be substantial enough for a firepot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodsmith Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 a fabricated steel firepot could work well enough, just that thinner steel burns away faster in xtreme heat than the thick cast ones, since most of us dont run our forges 7 days a week, I think it would last plenty long, you may never wear it out, however, I woudnt go to the work of building a round firepot, a square one maybe, I would find a used brake rotor with a deep round center and use that, there are many brake drum forges out there working well enough, I have found there are tons of brake rotors now used on vehicles with a deep enough center for a fire pot, they have a nicer taper, not straight sides, will work better than a brake drum and are a very tough casting. Woodsmith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hayden H Posted November 16, 2011 Author Share Posted November 16, 2011 I figured I'd just talk to my teacher and pillage the scrap trailer and make it free-handing with a plasma torch then weld it together Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodsmith Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 that works, Im often working with whatever Ive got handy, firepots dont have to be pretty, just tough, whatever you use, you can modify the inner profile by lining with clay, I do find straight sides sides with square corners on a fire pot a little annoying, always catching the poker on them and if too small in size your fire only has one smallish hot spot, still works just not ideal Woodsmith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 This is what I had and used for many years till the bed cracked. (actually I used it even then till it got too fragile to carry to demos) My fire pot was made from the axle cover from a 30's Banjo rear end (ford?). They are found fairly easily in rural areas having been made into jackstands. I ground out the interior ribs and the bearing race and dropped it into the circular hole. Added a cross pipe for the air and a flap for the ash dump and I have been using that same one for over 25 *years* as my main coal forge firepot---lots of billet welding! (I bought two at a fleamarket for $5 and still have the second as a "spare") Ask around at a local old scrapyard or salvage place. Worse gets to worse I found some in Albuquerque for about $5 per (+ shipping) that might still be around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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