[TheForge] In a pickle now!

[Jerry Frost]

If available dry ice on the sleeve and a weed burner on the brass tube
should solve this little rub if the jammed end of the sleeve isn't too badly
mushroomed. Check on the metallurgy of your brass to see just how hot you
can get it without damaging it and heat it up till the sleeve either lets go
or you approach the danger zone.

If it is too badly mushroomed you can mount it in your lathe and CAREFULLY
bore an inch or so of the inside of the sleeve to paper thinness to relieve
the mushrooming internally.

If you don't have easy access to dry ice you can try plugging the jammed end
of the sleeve and run a stream of cold water in it via what drillers call a
"tremmy tube" this is simply a tube or pipe of smaller OD than the ID of the
sleeve's bore. This will deliver water to the plugged end and allow it to
return in the gap between the tremmy and sleeve.

You can use ice and salt to make a brine which will get as cold as 28*f and
a recirculating pump if your tap water isn't particularly cold. I don't
believe a couple degrees will make much difference but it might. Alcohol and
dry ice used this way might be enough without heating the brass tube.

Evenly heat the brass tube with a weed burner, etc. keeping the sleeve as
cold as possible and you should be able to extract it. Pull the sleeve, even
if you have to sacrifice it by welding ears, etc. to attach chains. You may
still have to bore the jammed end to relieve any mushrooming.

Personally I'd consider the sleeve a loss, bore the jammed end, weld ears on
the exposed end and give it hell right from the start. I'm a firm believer
in firing all my guns at once when this kind of problem arises. All too many
times I've gradually advanced myself into an unrecoverable situation by
taking things like this a little at a time.

Good luck Calamity.

Frosty
------------------------
If it ain't forged
it ain't real.
Wrought iron is.
The FrostWorks

Meadow Lakes, AK.