Goods Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 JLP, I’ll reduce the angle on it a bit. It began life as a 52100 roller bearing from a 2000ton mechanical press, it should hold up with a steeper angle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rojo Pedro Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 Been awhile since I could light the forge and didnt have much time but made some gifts for some friends that gifted me a bunch of brick pavers. thanks for looking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 Those are nice, RP. The leftmost curlicue of the hook could be a trifle less abrupt in its main curve, but that's about the only criticism I could offer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 Finished the bell from an air tank. Messed up a part that holds the rope on the clapper so finished redoing it tonight. Now, do I build a stand, set it up, and annoy the neighbors or put it right for sale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 Oh xxxx, annoy the neighbors!!! I didn't realize you were making a "hand clapper" type bell. Thought you were making a wind-chime. We've someone in our area that makes them and sells them through a local tree farm/nursery. Really beautiful to hear several of those out in the woods. I'd like to make some myelf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 Put it on a stand and have the neighbors pay you not to ring it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 Lol. Yeah. I'm actually not so much a fan of the tone. Tho it is loud. I much prefer wind chimes and have made several wind chime sets. I think if I had a bigger tank and could get a lower tone I might like it. Tho, Johns suggestion aint half bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 Tune your bell by grinding a LITTLE at a time off the length. Clyde the curator of Jurustic Park has welding tank bells and wind chimes all over the place. One of my favorite types are the winged critters hanging in the tree. The wings and tank balance on pivots where the hanger connects. There's a cord hanging so people can rig the bell, pulling the body down lifts the wings, rings the bell and swings up and down ringing a few times. A wind will also set them to ringing. He has more imaginative ways to make wind chimes chime than I know. If you ever get to Marshfield Wis. make a point of stopping in, you'll never forget the place or Clyde. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausfire Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 Been rummaging around in the scrap as usual and noticed (while looking for something else) that several things could be used as handles for fire pokers or billy lifters. People just seem to like things that are recycled. Surprisingly, they are all comfortable in the hand and balance well. From the top (or left in pic 2) Rail spike poker, Ford truck wheel stud poker, harrow point poker, tractor tow pin poker, brake pull from vintage truck poker, metter's fence tightener poker, swivel link poker, twist handle poker from a Holden jack handle, horse bit poker with ring, horse bit billy lifter with ring, horse bit poker, horse bit billy lifter, and just a couple o knot pokers. Equestrian enthusiasts especially like anything made from stirrups, shoes, bits etc. Fun stuff to do when you get bored making standard pokers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 Thanks Frosty. If I'm ever out that way I'll be sure to check it out. It's not that this really needs tuned, just that I'd like a lower pitch and with the size of the tank it can only go higher. Cool handles Aus. A regular old pair of pliers could work for a handle as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausfire Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 Thanks, Das. Yes. pliers would work well. Nice symmetry. I could see a whole set of fire tools with matching plier handles. Not enough hours in the day! It's the height of our tourist season here at present … carpark full of Winnebagos , caravans and camper trailers. Over 100 visitors past the forge each day. Can't keep up the supply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 I can imagine, I'm sure everything is flying off the tables as fast as you can make it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dasher Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 I expect you get the same Middle Age Mutant Whingeing Tourists we get in the north of W.A Austfire Daswulf, you cold also tune your bell by raising or lowering your clapper, much like a guitar or trombone slide, with a bell of that length, there is a tone for everyone, somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 Guess I could toy with it more. Maybe see about finding something softer to use as a clapper like wood or something to give it a softer tone. Or coat the clapper in plastidip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnut Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 Have you thought about putting a vertical slit a few inches long starting at the bottom? I did that to a cymbal and it lowered and took some brightness out of the tone. A slit from the edge towards the middle maybe two inches long was all it took. Pnut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 Daswulf, the chimes/bells around here have wooden clappers. They are turned on a lathe and the edges rounded so only a small portion hits the tank/bell. Gentle sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 8 hours ago, ausfire said: Fun stuff to do when you get bored making standard pokers! Here's an idea, using the same for handles, try for snake hooks. I've made some for friends and they loved them. They use them to relocate critters from areas where they aren't welcome, but don't want to kill em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyBones Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 Aus, them there are some nice pokers and billy lifters. But i have to ask what is a billy? (i just now realized the irony in my question and i know there is a joke there somewhere but just cant find it.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 I've used croquet and polo balls for clappers before. (Why yes I do drink Tea---too strong, too sweet and too much milk!) "And he sang as he sat and waited while his billy boiled..." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dale Russell Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 BillyBones https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billycan And how to make " Billy tea " Dale Russell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rojo Pedro Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 I have a hockey puck for a clapper in mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 Ice hockey is a rather rare sport here on the triple junction of New Mexico, Texas and Mexico; but my neighbors teach polo... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rojo Pedro Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 True but We have a minor league hockey team here in Tucson (Phoenix Coyote farm team). Fun to go to the games the puck makes a nice mellow tone in my tank bell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 I make wind bells from the valve protectors from welding tanks; they seem to come through the scrapyard/fleamarket on a semi regular basis and when I can pick them up for US$3 or less I do. I hang them from the Mesquite tree next to my shop. As each one has a different chain and wind catcher I can listen to them from my bed and know how strong the wind is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 That's interesting, Thomas.............I'd never have thought of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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