[TheForge] Firepot Repair/Replacement Questions

[Chuck Robinson]

I talked to Gene Malloy a short time ago, and he is now making the fire 
pots and other cast blacksmithing gear again at LMF.
Laurel Machine and Foundry
810 Front Street/PO Box 1049
Laurel, MS 39441
Ph. 601-428-0541
Chuck


On 2/17/2015 3:35 PM, jerry Frost wrote:
> Laurel Machine and Foundry used to cast pretty nice fire pots. I just
> checked and their site doesn't have a search function so I don't know if
> they still offer them. You'd have to contact them and ask. Is anyone near
> putting on an iron pour? We have one locally every June so if anyone needed
> one we'd just take the class from Pat and cast what we wanted. In fact right
> now the club's discussing what we want on bench top swage blocks.
>
> Setting up a cupola melter and making it a club event might be a possibility
> but it'd take demand and someone who knows what they're doing. Just tapping
> the cupola isn't for the beginner figuring it out as they go.
>
> Jer
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TheForge [mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Bruce
> .
> Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2015 5:47 AM
> To: Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA
> Subject: [TheForge] Firepot Repair/Replacement Questions
>
> We had a burn-through of one of our crummy firepots.  There are cracks and a
> significant hole.  It's not worth repairing.  Money isn't a major issue
> here, though I don't like wasting it.  I would like to get the forge back
> into use ASAP.
>
> Three things:
> 1) Is it worth patching the thing for the short term.  If so, how?
> My though it to forge a "patch" for the one cracked side from 1/4" steel
> plate, and to bolt it in place, using refractory cement between the two
> layers.  Anyone have any experience?  We have some experience welding on
> cast-iron anvils, and I really don't want to go there...
>
> 2) What cast iron firepots are worth buying these days?
> Cheapest I've seen previously is $375, and I'm not sure of the quality.
> Centaur.  Pieh.  There's at least one other vendor last I looked.  Anyone
> know?
>
> 3) Is it worth fabricating a firepot out of (thick) steel, or are cast iron
> pots still enough better and/or cheaper to be worth buying?
> We may not have time for this anyway, so I'm just asking.  I just drew up
> plans for a thin-walled steel firepot for demo purposes (only), and could
> modify it for thick walls & different dimensions.
>
> Bruce
> NJ
>
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