stuarthesmith Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Wow, the original thread posted three days ago disappeared, so I am doing this over again. I was looking that day in CL Pennsylvania, and spied an advertisement for a forge, blacksmith tools, and coal, all with NO pictures. Needless to say, the guy with the "stuff" didn't get a lot of calls with NO pictures. I got there, and I see the biggest forge I have ever seen in my life. It is a Buffalo downdraft forge, which consists of four cast iron panels, with BUffalo Forge Logo, which bolt together to form a box. Each of the four panels weigh 150 pounds at least. Atop the box fits a steel table, consisting of 3/4 inch plate, which serves as the forge table. Two hinged doors sit atop the table, which open, allowing the blacksmith to store long fire tools vertically. The firepot(a real COAL EATER), is a cast iron ring, 24 inches in diameter and over a foot tall, sits atop the table, with five inch deep slots in the ring to accommodate barstock from both sides. The first set of photos show the forge in pieces, which weighed in excess of a thousand pounds unassembled. Now here is the kicker! I was meant to get this forge, it was my DESTINY. I asked the guy where he got the forge, and he said a refinery auction. I asked him if that auction was in 1982, the day after a big blizzard. He affirmed my suspicion. Turns out my f-600 truck was stuck in a snowdrift, buried axle-deep in mud and snow, so I had to watch HELPLESSLY while this guy bought that forge at the FMC Machinery auction where they manufactured nylon at this same refinery, 31 years ago! This was MEANT to be, almost like a machine of FATE! Notice that the firepot is so big, it barely fits in a wheelbarrow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSW Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 That's cool you found it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuarthesmith Posted August 11, 2013 Author Share Posted August 11, 2013 As promised three days ago, here are pictures of the assembled forge. Other participants in these photos are my 18 year old student Ashe, who, with his father helped me to assemble this monster. I couldn't figure out how to assemble the cast iron hood, so I sent these pictures to the guy who sold it to me, and he told me how to assemble the downdraft hood. Now here is the rest of the story. He also had a humongous Champion tire shrinker/upsetter, which I purchased three days later, because it was so heavy I couldn't move it in the same car with the thousand pound forge I had just purchased. I am selling the upsetter in the next couple of days on the IFI tailgating section. It is HEAVY but BEAUTIFUL! I also allowed my student to buy from the guy a champion rivet forge pan, a bucket of beautifully made tongs, and a beautiful industrial forge hood made out of plate which wouldn't fit in my car(a backup cowl for my megaforge). I am not adverse to helping youngsters to acquire blacksmith tools which I find for them, especially since he is such an earnest young man. His dad, who took these pictures, fully supports his son's "adventures" into blacksmithing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSW Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Cool. I'm looking forward to seeing you hopefully next weekend in Lambertville. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuarthesmith Posted August 11, 2013 Author Share Posted August 11, 2013 I was going to email you with details, lol. Will do that this evening! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSW Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McPherson Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 So, has it been dis-assembled all that time, or did he ever use it? And did he make any profit on his $100 investment, after inflation and storage fees? ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuarthesmith Posted August 11, 2013 Author Share Posted August 11, 2013 Disassembled for 31 years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Beautiful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Everything Mac Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 I love it when fat throws you a bone like that! Looks like a real beast, I look forward to pics of it up and running. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuarthesmith Posted August 12, 2013 Author Share Posted August 12, 2013 I just found a picture of one brand new in an old book. Looks like I assembled mine correctly! Luckily, mine is in excellent shape, with no cracks or breaks, and the firepot intact! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 Amazing how short blacksmiths of old must have been if that forge was a comfortable working height for them. Have you figured out the hood, yet? How long til you have a fire in her? Any thoughts on what will be her inaugural project? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuarthesmith Posted August 13, 2013 Author Share Posted August 13, 2013 this particular forge is LOW because heavy iron needs to be LIFTED up on the forge table and off the forge table to hit it. Big anvils, back in the day, which saw a lot of sledge hammer work, were set up BELOW knuckle height for that reason. The stock heated in THIS forge was probably lifted out of the coal fire with a boom crane, right to the big NAZEL which was in that particular shop. Yes, I have the hood figured out! The guy I bought it from explained how to assemble it, so I am GOOD TO GO! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stash Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 Hey Stewart- congrats on the score. I grabbed a bunch of tongs from him and saw the hood still there (Sat AM) That thing was huge! Also saw the blower housing- pretty cool. I'd love to see it all set up and functional sometime. Did you take the coal off his hands?? Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuarthesmith Posted August 13, 2013 Author Share Posted August 13, 2013 Steve, I have 16 tons of coal currently. He still has the coal for sale...............a golden opportunity for those who cannot find coal for their forges. BTW, the forge is set up and functional now. That hood you saw was a spare, I have the original cast iron one attached to the assembled forge already. I sold the extra hood you saw to my student, as well as the rivet forge pan you undoubtedly saw. He also bought the remainder of the tongs from kevin, as well as that real nice handled punch you left there. There is ANOTHER guy in Ridley Park who has a ton of blacksmith stuff, I will post that info after I try to buy it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stash Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 If you get back down there, give me a yell- I'm 15 min away. We can grab some coffee or whatever. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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