[TheForge] bellows

[Andrew Vida]

Allen Ortery wrote:
> We just rebuilt the one at New Salem.  16 to 20 oz. canvas works
> great. the canvas that we replaced had been on the bellows for 20+
> years. Make sure to seal the canvas, used concrete sealer from Sherwin
> Williams. The plywood may not hold the nails well, lot of pressure.

Good point.  Use screws.

About 15 tears ago A friend of Bruce and mind, Dave MacCauley rebuilt 
two of the bellows at Allaire Village (Dave did all 4 as I recall, I 
hepled him here and there with two of those).  As I recall, we used 
strips of wood along the nail line to provide even pressure to the 
leather and thus a good seal.


If possible, use quartered planks as these will be far less likely to cup.

> Ours is made out of real wood, even the floating ribs you can't see,
> the good solid core plywood might work best, unless some has built one
> out of the other stuff with success.
>