[TheForge] Re: Box billows.

[Jerry Frost]

Phlip:

Paint the sono tube to look like a hollow log or perhaps stitched birch 
bark, like a canoe, or large dia. bamboo. While a box bellows is perfectly 
okay, the tube version is much older and something a person could improvize 
on the spot. Piston bellows came along right after the blowpipe and lung 
system and is still in use today. Can't get much more period than that. 
<grin>

Something else to consider is how you mount it. Seems horizontal has become 
the popular version of traditional but vertical is just as, or more 
appropriate and is superior on several counts. If you mount your bellows 
vertically it'll take up less space. There are lots of useful places and 
uses you can put it to as well.

You can:

Put it under your forge

Use it as a stool.

Use it as a table.

And so on.

Vertically you use a lever and weight to work it. The lever can have a cord 
running to a treadle for hands free operation. The counter weight means 
you're only having to "work it" half the time as in the common version 
double acting bellows.

You can also make a vertical accordian bellows and be within the last half 
dozen centuries or so.

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

Meadow Lakes, AK.

http://www.artmetalradio.com/



From: "marilyn traber 011221" <phlip at 99main.com>


>
>> Why not get a piece of 12 inch cardboard tubing used as forms for
>> concrete.  Then put a 1/2 or  3/4 inch plywood on each end. Then set
>> up a rod  that has a  rocker type arm on it to pump  the billows.
>> Light  weight, put a coat of paint it and then put some type of
>> clear coating like  verathane to water proof it. Also could do
>> something like a treadle pedal to  pump it.
>>
>> Just a few strange ideas I have.
>>
>> Later ike
>
> Why do that? I want a period set up. Considering my persona and location, 
> I
> might well have run into the box bellows, so havinmg a set would be
> reasonable ;-)
>
> Phlip
>