I'm starting a new thread here since it will be easier to find the information.

So I have wanted one of the Buffalo Downdraft forges for a very long time. 

I picked this one up last week.    The 45yr quest has been answered. 

I have a lot of experience with very early 1890-1950's equipment..   

This forge was put back together a little off.   When items in the old days were assembled they were put together in a very certain way. 

This forge when it was put back together after cleaning was off.  So seeing this I took it completely apart and fixed most of the things that needed it. 

This forge body is a series 48 with a 200 silent blower with down draft hood (so this is a 248E  (The hood itself wears the 6660 number but it is not a 6660 forge that is simply the downdraft number). 

I had to remove some screws that were drilled in half by the old owner,  then chase the threads.. So far they are holding. 
Also found some screws that were completely rusted in with both head and tail end gone.  I removed these as well. 

the back section has a crack and this has been reinforced with 3/16" plate 24"X7" that is held in via the bolts and screws that mount the hood assembly.. Just used longer bolts for the hood. 

This unit is still missing the center piece that goes in the hood. 

It is outlined in yellow in one of the photos..  If someone has a photo of what it looks like please post it.  I don't want to reinvent the wheel..  EAsy enough to copy a photo. 

The middle bolt in the back 1/2" X 13tpi was rusted in place and snapped off.  Adding the extra plate moved the ash catch down the 3/16" so I put a very long taper on the bolt for this hole and it mates the hole in the ash catch pulling it upwards.  I have other ways of fixing this but wanted to try this first. 

All the bolt and screw holes for this were plugged with old rusted screws.  I knocked them out and clean up the holes.. 

The firepot was in backwards when I bought it.   And had made the mistake of fitting the new plate with it that way..   When I switched the firepot back to the way it's supposed to be the venturi pipe no longer was in the correct location as I put it in the the plate so had to enlarge it and it was moves over towards the side more..  

By switching the firepots orientation it put everything back in alignment as it should have been with very little misalignment. 

If someone in the future gets one of these forges, if you take it apart.. Make sure to put it back together in correct alignment.. The easiest way is to keep all the bolts installed but loose, then start tightening them by working around.. 

This will be photo heavy. 

 

Very exciting forge to get your hands on!  The idea of recirculating the unburnt fumes from coal smoke has been a goal since seeing the "smoke catcher" in Weyger's book all those years ago.

Impressive it has so much cast iron that isn't all that broken. Good find!

I bought this for it's history..  Meaning the principle of how it works..   

With metal plate, pipe benders, welders and such its easy to build something that will work better than this unit. 

Having never seen one getting to see how or why they did things simplifies the R&D as I want to have regen forges in the school. 

Lots of these older down draft forges did well..   It was usually with them being left outside and getting flooded and frozen or a tree hitting them that did them in. 

I also want to have preheated air feeding the fire so the firepots will be hollow with air fed thru them. 

Yes, it is cool. and Very happy to have it. 

Here is the 48 with down draft and what I believe to be an early 49..  Cast iron legs vs pipe. 

The firepots are exactly the same size. 

I have a 660 that I restored. Attached are some before and after pictures. 

You did a great job to boot.. 

Sounds like one of your fan blades is hitting the inside of the blower.. 

Very nice forge..