Black Maple Forge Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 Does anyone know where to get great bellows? On Ebay I've seen some, but their usually REALLY expensive. I may make one (I've been looking over blueprints and such), but I would like to consider buying first. Thanks!:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rfdecarter Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 They're going to be hard to find. Get Heath's book How to Make a Blacksmith's Bellows. I believe it is available from Centaur Forge. I lucked into finding one from a guy selling out. He hadn't used it in years and either squirrels or mice had gotten to it. I'm having to rebuild the ribs and recover it, but still easier than starting from scratch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Einhorn Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 (edited) Here are some plans for bellowsBP0127 Bellows ConstructionGuru - BellowsBellows Edited November 26, 2008 by UnicornForge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Einhorn Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 Here are some plans for bellowsBP0127 Bellows ConstructionBP0141 Bellows ConstructionGuru - BellowsBellows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomkearns Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 You could contact Village Restorations (info@villagerestorations.com). Well they do not make bellows they do have a supplier who does and they could give you the contact information. You can see a set of bellows at the Army Heritage Museum in Carlisle, PA or in my shop if you are ever in SW PA Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeaverDamForge Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 You might consider using Tyvek instead of leather or canvas. Strong, flexible, and should be of no interest to rodents. Carpet glue will hold it. Some of the new dog food bags are a reinforced plastic, might work with this design; http://www.cd3wd.com/CD3WD_40/JF/JF_OTHER/SMALL/04-084_blacksmiths_bellows.pdf Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 When I built my double lunged bellows I used heavily treated canvas used to make wind tarps for oilfield drilling rigs. The canvas was in better shape than the wood when I left it behind my last move after 20 years of service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jymm Hoffman Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 one detail most of these instructions leave out: To make a bellows work much better, do not divide the leather evenly top to bottom. Instead, place more leather on the top chamber, as much as a 1/3 to 2/3 ratio. I can and have made a lager bellows smaller in overall size and work much better with this ratio. I cut about 12 inches of length off the back (and wider section) of a bellows, when putting on the new leather I applied this theory. It not only made it more compact, but worked much better. I also found garment leather in a remnant bin at a Tandy's store that happened to be just the right size. Garment leather works great, thin and supple, it cost me about $80.00 at the time, 15 years ago. These bellows still work great. I also did an old set in canvas about 20 years ago that is still in use. The garment leather is actually lighter in weight than the canvas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironrosefarms Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 Jymm, I fully agree on the 1/3 2/3 on the two sections. When I helped rebuild the bellows at the village I used to volunteer at, they was originally 1/2 1/2. After the rebuild and adjusting the sections to the 1/3 on bottom 2/3 on top, the bellows was absolutely incredible and was much easier to use, required less effort to pump and had better air flow for a longer period of time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Maple Forge Posted November 27, 2008 Author Share Posted November 27, 2008 If I am to make one, would it be better to use one large peice of wood (probably ply/pulpwood) or to glue/seal a few peices of wood together (for the "paddles")? Thanks again everyone!:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted November 27, 2008 Share Posted November 27, 2008 Plywood and canvas. Use a saturated solution of borax in water to make the canvas fire reluctant. Or use a commercial product. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Einhorn Posted November 27, 2008 Share Posted November 27, 2008 How thick does the plywood have to be so that the boards will not bend? I made a bellows many years ago from plywood, about 1/2" thick and the plywood bent severely when I tried to pump it. The bellows looked nice, and the valving worked nicely, but otherwise it did not work well because the plywood bent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironrosefarms Posted November 27, 2008 Share Posted November 27, 2008 The ones I've been involved in used either 1by pine or tulip poplar (4-6" wide planks) butted side on side then bound together with multiple cross boards to hold them together. We then simply applied some sealant between the boards (caulking) on the inside (so it wouldn't show) On the last one we added a metal strapping around the butt ends of the boards (over the canvas) that in theory was to help avoid fastener failure on the cross boards... it also incorporated the pull point on one side 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.