piglet_74 Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 Finally I took a day to get together all the bits and pieces that I've been collecting and using the immense amount of info from Frosty and others here, I rigged up my first backyard smithy. I used a cesspool bell trap that was listed in another post by someone as the fire pot. A piece of expanded steel was the grate. Black pipe tees and nipples made up air delivery. TSC supplied the stack cap (ash dump). Sheet metal and flat stock for the table. So here it is... Whole thing Workstation Forge rig Fire pot Continued on next post... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piglet_74 Posted November 8, 2008 Author Share Posted November 8, 2008 (edited) First Fire What I made scrap yard score The piece above I got from the recycler today. It appears to be something for concrete but I'm going to torch out an opening for the firepot since my sheet metal didn't hold up very well. Can't wait to put that to use. It will be great to rig up a rest and tool holder at the front of the forge instead of constantly picking up the tools off the ground. Thanks, for looking! Rob. Edited November 8, 2008 by piglet_74 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabre Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 nice start!!! you should move your smithy into the shed behind the forge!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Einhorn Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 Just keep in mind that the heavy metals in galvanization are extremely poisonous especially when heated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piglet_74 Posted November 8, 2008 Author Share Posted November 8, 2008 I had to think for a minute where I might have used galv. in the construction, then I noticed the tub. That was only a temp thing I used to pull apart the fire and water it down so I could take off for the afternoon. I need to get an ash bucket and a slack tub and I'm hoping they have plain steel buckets at TSC. Other wise I may continue to use plastic. I had a kitchen trash can with a gallon or two of water for a slack tub but I was afraid of burning a hole through it. As for the shed, unfortunately it has to house the yard stuff so i have to share it. The rig is pretty portable so it shouldn't be bad to setup and tear down. I was thinking of welding two tubes to the bottom of the new table. Then have a sliding tool holder / rest on the front. Are there any design consideration for that? I tried to look through the gallery but didn't get many hits. Thanks, Rob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keykeeper Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 Well done, very good start. Forge on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustyshackleford Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 This appears to be a great way to break into the hobby. I love the triangular workstation! I'm curious to know why you say the sheet didn't hold up. I've been using a rather sketchy affair of unsupported 14g w/ pipe fittings, running coal at welding heat with a vaccum blower, and have been doing so with only distortion to the tuyere area. Been using this for about two years now (not constantly, but not infrequently). Anyway, Looks great, glad you're having fun with it and glad to see you're off to a strong start! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finnr Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 Looking real good there!! Finnr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 Rob: Don't sweat a little galvy in your slack tub, sprinkler can, etc. The only time you have to worry about fumes is if you heat it past low orange and burn the zinc. If that happens, just step away cross wind and try not to breath the pretty smoke. A sharp piece of steel can poke a hole in a steel bucket quite easily, I cut a piece of sheet steel to armor up the bottom. Works in a plastic bucket as well. Nice looking set up. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piglet_74 Posted November 9, 2008 Author Share Posted November 9, 2008 Frosty, thanks, I didn't know that. That'll open up some more options for me. You may have noticed a design idea or two of yours in the construction :-) thanks. Josh, I didn't do a very good job with putting together the table out of sheet. I put two pieces of flat bar stock on the rim to support the bell trap. then I tacked the sheet to the bar stock to hold fuel. Pretty much right away it seemed like a light breeze would blow my fuel around (cowboy charcoal) and I felt like I needed a little more depth so I stuck some pavers I had around the edge. The pavers are what killed it. I threw that table together on Friday and as luck would have it, ran across the turntable thing Sat morning. I had been looking for a piece of scrap like it for weeks. The experience was good I think. Gave me an idea of how the setup will work for me. I have two more bags of Cowboy to play with and then I think I want to grab a bag of coal to try. That's what we used in class. The charcoal seems to be a faster pace since it burns quickly. One minute I had the fire like I liked it and then I would turn around and it was half gone. Even with the air off it seemed to go pretty quick. The most important thing I think was it had to be the most fun I've had in a while. Rob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keykeeper Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 The most important thing I think was it had to be the most fun I've had in a while. Rob. And THAT is what we like to hear!! If you are NOT having fun, why bother, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piglet_74 Posted November 9, 2008 Author Share Posted November 9, 2008 (edited) Well, today I torched out an opening for the bell trap in the plate that I picked up. I think it worked out really well. I'll set the whole thing on top of the rim stand and I should be good to go. I can't wait to get it fired up again. I figured that some day if I feel like spending the 150 +/- for a centaur firepot, I could torch the opening for that and drop it in. Maybe Xmas... :D Edited November 9, 2008 by piglet_74 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Leppo Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 Glad the bell trap worked for you; i've been using one for a few years, but I only use it about 4 hours per week average. Mine is about 4" deep, and I find that good for coal. I understand that charcoal calls for more depth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piglet_74 Posted November 10, 2008 Author Share Posted November 10, 2008 Thank you for the idea Goatman. It was so long ago I forgot who had posted about it. The one I have is a 9" model. I'll have to measure the depth of it. When you use it with coal, what do you use for a tuyere? I used some expanded metal. It seems to have held up OK so far. Thanks, Rob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Leppo Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 at the bottom of my "drain" is a cast collar about 3" dia. this sits into a 4" dia pipe, which also acts as an ash collection point, with a gate at the bottom. I blow air in the side of this 4" piece with a 2" nipple, welded in.firepot.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.