Tom May Posted January 26, 2022 Share Posted January 26, 2022 I picked up a rivet forge for a few bucks at a local flea market. I'm a little curious about how this guy is supposed to work. There's no firepot as such, and the grate sits (perfectly) on that little lip at the top of the tuyere. I'm sure this thing is pretty old because all the hardware on the hand-cranked blower uses square nuts. So I'm curious... should there be a layer of refractory cement or something that comes up the top of the grate? It's close to 3/4" thick. There are no stampings anywhere that indicate that cement is to be used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 26, 2022 Share Posted January 26, 2022 Definitely not the original grate! What's the air like? Might work well for using charcoal; but I'd wonder about coal. And yes if it's a cast iron body then a layer of clay is needed. You might want to look up a "duck's nest firepot". You can still buy square nuts... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frazer Posted January 26, 2022 Share Posted January 26, 2022 Not refractory, but a nice clay/sand mixture (roughly 1:3 mix IMO) should do the trick. My forge has a ducks nest firepot (it's cast iron, but you could mold the shape out of clay too. Clay rich soil is fine for the clay portion. Some people use cheap unscented (clean) kitty litter. (Cross posted with quick-draw Thomas; bested again! I thought the same thing about the grate. That one will probably work, but might clog up due to the small holes) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom May Posted January 26, 2022 Author Share Posted January 26, 2022 44 minutes ago, ThomasPowers said: Definitely not the original grate! What's the air like? I was wondering whether it was original. It seems a little hokey, but then on the other hand it's the exact right diameter to sit there. The air is decent from the blower. It runs like you'd expect. 44 minutes ago, Frazer said: Not refractory, but a nice clay/sand mixture (roughly 1:3 mix IMO) should do the trick. I'll try to find some clay. Not really a lot of it in New Hampshire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frazer Posted January 26, 2022 Share Posted January 26, 2022 No, probably not. It doesn't need to be special clay, kitty litter works. For the grate I've seen people lay round stock across the opening and call it a day. The larger openings make it less prone to clogging up with clinker/ash. (Credit to Bluerooster for the picture) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 26, 2022 Share Posted January 26, 2022 Blacksmith supply companies sell cast iron grates for rivet forges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWISTEDWILLOW Posted January 26, 2022 Share Posted January 26, 2022 Thomas is right, I ordered one when I built a little forge last year, think it was $15-$20 bucks Also someone on here awhile back had used cast iron floor drain grates Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom May Posted January 26, 2022 Author Share Posted January 26, 2022 You guys are right. Just checked, at least two supply companies sell replacement tuyere grates. I might do like Frazer says and weld a few pieces of steel rod over the opening, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 26, 2022 Share Posted January 26, 2022 Don't weld to cast iron please! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWISTEDWILLOW Posted January 26, 2022 Share Posted January 26, 2022 You’ll crack that forge if you weld to it, but you can weld up a grate that can set on it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom May Posted January 26, 2022 Author Share Posted January 26, 2022 It is cast iron. Thanks for the warning - maybe I'll just buy a grate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frazer Posted January 26, 2022 Share Posted January 26, 2022 Buy the grate or leave the scrap pieces long enough to be partially covered/held in place by your clay lining. Whatever works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom May Posted January 26, 2022 Author Share Posted January 26, 2022 Also, you guys are amazing. The only forum that's as helpful as you are is probably the Coleman collectors forum. There seem to be like five guys there refreshing their screens constantly to answer obscure questions about antique Coleman lantern parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWISTEDWILLOW Posted January 26, 2022 Share Posted January 26, 2022 Your welcome, this forum has over 50 thousand members in over 100 countries, so there’s usually at least one or two Blacksmiths hanging around lol, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted January 26, 2022 Share Posted January 26, 2022 When I built our forge I made a grate like yours and had to continually clear the holes of clinker & ash. Since we had the pottery side still up & running, I replaced the grate with a commercial one and built the ducks nest out of fire clay we had on hand. It's been fine for a couple of decades now. Some pictures I took for another member. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom May Posted January 27, 2022 Author Share Posted January 27, 2022 9 hours ago, Irondragon ForgeClay Works said: I replaced the grate with a commercial one and built the ducks nest out of fire clay we had on hand. That grate looks perfect. I'm going to try what you did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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