Max Mulholland - Tetnum Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 Southern Ohio Forge and Anvil (SOFA) Blacksmith Association i am just wondering if there is anay thing special about the sofa fire pots i have used them as well as others so i am just wondering Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Larson Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 I have one. It is rectangular. The air hole is circular, however, and the fire ends up being circular pretty much like a traditional square firepot. I have done a number of experiments to elongate the fire, including rotating the clinker breaker 90 degrees so that the slots run lengthwise instead of cross wise. I had a (Buffalo?) rectangular firepot from "back in the day" with a rectagular air hole and clinker breaker. The fire was correspondingly rectangular. Sold it to a friend who loves it. The configuration that I have found useful--and most simple-- is just to lay two 1x1 bars on the fireport bottom edges. This slightly rectangularizes the air opening, provides a path for the air to flow under the bulk of the coal, still allows the clinker breaker to work, and elongates the fire substantially. It works. More elaborate experiments have not really accomplished much more. For example, the use of a plate on top of the two 1x1 bars, drilled for strategic air distribution, creates an air plenum that overcomes the design deficiency of the circular clinker breaker. However, not using the plate pretty much still provides a good rectangular fire in the coal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yesteryearforge Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 I have 6 square sofa firepots and 1 rectangular sofa firepot and have had nothing but great results from them. Compared to a lot of the other brands they are heavy duty and very well made. I would buy them again with no hesitation and in fact intend to purchase more of them while at quadstate this sept Mike Tanner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 What are the dimensions? Sq and rec please. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ten Hammers Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 You may find that these pots are from Roger Lorrance. If so, excellent quality and longevity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yesteryearforge Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 Frosty You can go to Southern Ohio forge & anvil There you will find the firepots / swageblocks etc. Mike Tanner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Mulholland - Tetnum Posted June 24, 2008 Author Share Posted June 24, 2008 "The 3 styles available include the common 8-1/2" x 10" rectangle, a 8-1/2" x 14" rectangle for knife makers, and a 6" round fire" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 As last I recall, the sofa fire pots are made specifically for SOFA using patterns that belong to SOFA. Honest Bob Cruikshank (sp?) had the patterns and the job of getting them cast when I moved away from OH. I have used them on the SOFA forges and they worked well. They will of course look a whole lot like other professional firepots as they are all based on commercially made ones from the last century. I'm too cheap to buy one new or I'd own a passle of them---I have an old railroad forge that needs a new firepot after the previous owner walked away from it and burnt a RR rail in two in it not doing the firepot any good as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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