Big Lake Forge Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 Does anyone have plans to build a japanese box bellows? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WmHorus Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 There is a book called the craft of the japanese sword by knapp and yoshihara, that has a nice schematic in it of one, just not measured out. Also Talk to Dan on his site, he made one http://www.twinoaksforge.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 Here is a link with plans and explanation. http://www.twinoaksforge.com/BLADSMITHING/BOX%20BELLOWS.HTM Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric Furrer Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 They work well....do put the glass on the bottom...I did not and after several years it is a bit harder to move. I had a local cabinet maker do two..note the double rods not the single which Dano has in the blueprint. They work well, but Dano has another design with double inlet/outlet ports that seems to work better, though not traditional. Mine are here second from last photo: http://www.doorcountyforgeworks.com/From_Dirt_to_Dagger_Video.html Ric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Lake Forge Posted December 9, 2011 Author Share Posted December 9, 2011 Thanks everyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robakyo Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 I initially researched other methods of bellows construction. Even a bellows plan for developing countries. Since car tires don't normally use inner-tubes today, I found that "easy" plan to be untenable. As WmHorus stated, "The Craft of the Japanese Sword", provides the information needed to construct a box bellows. Don't be hung up on a particular size. Once you understand the principles, build it to the size you need. Mine is 41 inches(L) X 14 inches(W) [ plus 5 inches for the manifold] X 23 1/2 inches(H). The piston has a gasket made from a beach towel. I used a length of mirror glued to the floor and the sides were old table tops that were faced with some formica-like material. If I were to make another one, I would use two piston rods instead of one. It produces an amazing amount of air, but not having used anything else, I don't know how it compares to anything else. Like any bellows, I suppose, you have the ability to control it to an amazing degree. I find that my forge gets up to forging temps with wood alone. I haven't used charcoal yet, but believe that with that addition, I would be able to forge weld. The japanese sword smiths did. The only drawback is that I use a lot of energy just tending the fire. It has allowed me to understand fire management somewhat. I do think that my bellows is on the large size, and that it could have been a tad smaller. Robert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex wilson Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 On 12/8/2011 at 5:19 PM, Big Lake Forge said: Does anyone have plans to build a japanese box bellows? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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