[TheForge] treadle forge rebuild

[Kenny O.]

I recently finished rebuilding a treadle forge, it kind of resembles the 
Nos.156 and 157 in my old Canedy-Otto catalog.
It had a cracked fire pot (in two) and no Babbitt where the shaft goes 
through the blower.
I used melted tire weights in place of Babbitt. And I used a nickel 
spray to fix the pot .
Unfortunately it cracked, even after taking every possible means at my 
disposal to  _c o o l   i t  s l o w l y._
There are some pictures of the deal on the bottom of the "Forges..." 
album and a close up of the crack.
(That dreaded "TINK" when welding cast!.)
I am going to put some kind of refractory in the bottom but I'm not sure 
how to do it properly,
Will this fall apart if I get it working hot with the refac in it?
I do have a tendency to complicate things.
Any feed back on this process would help.
I don't think this will even be used any time soon, I still have to find 
a belt for it and then some coal.
Maybe I should give to my wife for garden art?
Thanks
Kenny O