[TheForge] treadle forge rebuild

[Ralph Sproul]

	Hi Kenny, We chased a crack for about 12 inches back and forth on one of
those a few years back.  We finally gave up, and formed a piece of 1/8 flat
to a contour that roughly fit the area ( fitting then beating on a stake -
not on the casting).  The problem was the cast was not only cracked - but
also heavily pitted from sitting in the dirt for years.

	The bolt on patch worked well covered with a refractory about 1" thick.  He
used the firepot for about 2 years before getting something better - but it
was still functional.  The fellow used wax paper in the bowl, then poured
the refractory in it - let it set, dry, then ran a small kindling fire in it
to finish drying it out.  Then he lit a coal fire and let it rip doing some
forging - it held up well.  The trick was to have the "inserts made so they
could float as a firepot bowl in two halves.  He used posterboard between
the two halves on top of the wax paper.......this way when the refractory
expanded and contracted, it moved instead of applying further stress on an
already cracked and repaired pan.

Ralph

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Kenny O.
Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2006 4:34 PM
To: Sponsored by ABANA
Subject: [TheForge] treadle forge rebuild


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



_______________________________________________
Manage membership or unsubscribe at:
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
theforge mail list group photo site is
http://www.photoaccess.com
Login:  blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
password:  anvil
___________