[TheForge] Slack tank

[xlch58 at swbell.net]

I will bet that it isn't that simple.  I am guessing that if the item is 
too buoyant then there will not be enough of it submerged to assist.   
The wood probably avoids getting keyed into the ice because of the non 
linear density of water near freezing.  This would make the wood bob in 
slow motion.

In order for the ice to burst the steel band, it would have to be thick 
enough to both provide enough force to overcome the tensile strength of 
the steel band and rivets and thick enough to prevent buckling under 
hoop stress exerted by the band.   Makes you think about replacing the 
standard band with a crenulated spring steel one that would expand under 
sufficient force.  Once opened it would automatically empty the tub, but 
after the thaw would automatically close up and pull the staves tight 
again.

Another idea is that since the water will freeze from the top down, if 
you know that in your area it seldom freezes below a certain point i.e. 
5 inches, you could make an insert at the water level that was a 5 inch 
tall inverted frustrum.  This would have the effect of causing the ice 
to eject itself.  Theoretically a standard steel washtub like I use 
should be self protecting (i.e. ice ejecting), except for the stiffening 
beads rolled into it that would tend to anchor the ice and prevent it 
from rising out.    I have had mine freeze up many times, but never had 
it damage the tub, but it doesn't stay that cold for long in Texas

Charles

On 12/17/2010 12:06 PM, Bruce Freeman wrote:
> Other things than firewood will work -- empty plastic bottles,
> pingpong balls, etc.
>
> On Fri, Dec 17, 2010 at 12:46 PM, Albin Drzewianowski<dski1045 at qis.net>  wrote:
>> We have a wooden half barrel in the Historic Forge at the Farm Museum.  If
>> the water freezes, it will probably swell enough to burst the steel bands
>> that hold it together.   I think that has happened to us  in the past.  We
>> have found that throwing 2-3 large pieces of firewood into the barrel
>> prevents the damage.  When the water in the barrel freezes up,  it
>> compresses the fire wood floating in the barrel.  Come spring we just fish
>> out the water logged fire wood and exchange the nasty old water for fresh
>> water.
>>
>> this has worked for us for the last couple of years.  (knock on wood)
>>
>> D-ski
>> Westminster, MD
>> The lyf so short, the craft so long to lerne.
>>