[TheForge] Portable Forge rebuild

[Best, Dianne]

(Fer them what also visit the Blacksmith's Junkyard, I apologize - this'll
be a duplicate)
Good mornin fellers! 
I'm rebuilding a portable forge that was in a fire and I have a few
questions: 
#1 - Cracked pan. 
The pan has a crack 3/4 of the way across the bottom. Since I am planning on
lining the pan with clay, I don't think the crack will be a problem. Am I
wrong? 
#2 - Broken drive wheel 
A segment (between two spokes) fell out of the large flywheel that drives
the blower. The ends are rusty, so it has been broken for a long time. 
I know how cast iron is SUPPOSED to be brazed (by evenly preheating,
brazing, and the slowly and evenly allowing to cool) but I haven't had much
luck with that process - I have had new cracks form during cooling. 
I am thinking about repairing the flywheel segment by using epoxy and
putting in a couple of small steel pins. Is there an easier way? 
#3 - Flywheel weight 
This is a lever-operated blower and, looking at the flywheel, which is
relatively light, I was wondering if adding some weight would give longer
blower action (momentum) - would this be an advantage? I could put steel
"tire" around the flywheel and just about double its weight. 
#4 - Blower drive belt 
I am wondering what to use for a blower drive belt. Obviously the thinner
and more flexible the belt, the longer the blower will spin for each pump of
the lever. I have some rubber (conveyor belting), but that has lots of drag.
The only canvas belting I have is too heavy to turn easily on the small
blower pulley. Any suggestions? 
Thanks fer yer ideas fellers! 
Calamity Jane 



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