Thats Hot... Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 I think it turned out good. All I need now is fire... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 needs a mousehole so you can stick long pieces all the way through the hot zone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thats Hot... Posted December 16, 2015 Author Share Posted December 16, 2015 Ok,, I will fix that tonight thanks..I will p/u 100lbs. of coal Thur. and have fire soon after.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arkie Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 Nice looking forge. You're gonna need a heavier counterweight for your ash dump to keep it closed. Might tack weld an arm and heavy weight on the "ear", long enough so that you can dump by just leaning over to work it. Come to think of it, no more than the flapper weighs, just a long arm of something like 1/2" rod/bar would probably work without any more weight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bud in PA Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 Looks good. I like the fact that it has shelves. You can never have enough room to store stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubleipa Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 I love the idea and the shelves too. How has it worked for yea? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thats Hot... Posted January 9, 2016 Author Share Posted January 9, 2016 So far it has worked great .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie42141 Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 I like it. Very nice work. Just finished clawing mine. Any thoughts? Still have to build the rolling cart for it. I like the suggestion on a mouse hole. You guys think a small hole or slots on both sides. Thinking towards slots. Any experienced member'since advice is appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 How do you get a long piece into the hot spot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie42141 Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 That'sounds why I'm asking suggestions for a hole vs. Slots on both sides. Any thoughts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 So very much work for so limited a forge. <sigh> Semi brake drums are of very limited uses other than stopping a truck. That's not "clawing" Earnie it's "Claying" meaning to ram clay into a thing. In the case of these extremely impractical and practically useless semi drum fire pots the clay is to make them small enough to be useful. You guys would all be better off with a wooden box full of clay. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie42141 Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Thanks frosty. This is my beginner set up to get started. Had one already. Do you think cutting slots in both sides is better than holes for longer stock. Oops on the spelling, phone uses the auto correct. How would set up the box you suggested Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 I liked clawing! Very picturesque... Slots will help. You may want a fence to keep coal or charcoal from overflowing onto the table and thence onto the ground Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie42141 Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Will put the fence on. Thanks for the tip. Do you one day air dry is long enough to wait before a small drying fire? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 I wasn't clear? I wouldn't use a semi brake drum for much of anything except: stopping trucks, elevated fire pits, buried ground anchors and Smoothbore just mentioned bells. I haven't tried a bell so maybe. Get or make a box say 12" wide x 24" long x 8+ deep. Decide if you want a bottom or side blast. Lay a piece of iron pipe in the bottom from one end either 3-4" above the bottom or almost touching the bottom. A sideblast tuyere lays near the bottom of a trench just off the bottom and barely exposed. The air is supplied through the pipe, you replace the pipe as it burns up. A bottom blast is more problematical but you're going to be a blacksmith. The real problem is clearing the ash from the air supply. I like running a supply from one end to a T fitting and another line to the far end and capping it. A close nipple on the T to a perforated cap is your air grate. Hook the blower to the supply end and you're good to go. Clearing the ash is as easy as removing the cap from the cleanout end if it's really bad ram it clean with a piece of rod. I know I didn't say anything about forming the fire pot. It's damp clay make it whatever shape you need. For coal I like a "duck's nest" a shallow depression, say 1" +/- deep and maybe 3-4" around in a nice flat deck so I can stack bricks to shape the fire how I want. A side blast seems to like blowing into a trench but you can use a duck's nest just as well and it's just as versatile. Charles has just recently posted pics of his wood box side blast forge. It's a perfect model. Frosty The Lucky. 11 minutes ago, ThomasPowers said: I liked clawing! Very picturesque... Slots will help. You may want a fence to keep coal or charcoal from overflowing onto the table and thence onto the ground Clawing clay . . . Uh, isn't that a little catty Thomas? I have to admit clawing a forge does make for good visuals. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Bill Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 For pete's sake will you guys stop using "semi brake drum" and "bell" in the same sentence! I tried it and posted with pic not too long ago. Both types are much quieter than I would ever have imagined and useless as bells. This even with carefully suspending the drum with less contact area than I've seen on vintage cast iron bells. So, what makes vintage cast iron bells work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thats Hot... Posted January 14, 2016 Author Share Posted January 14, 2016 I did cut out an area on the back side for long stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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