New to me . . .

[cozee]

It has been awhile since I have been to the board as I began to sway and fell to the dark side of working with alternative metal (wood). Due to a recent interest in metal spinning, I seem to have come full circle back to metal working. Any way. last fall my wife's uncle gave me an old forge. I know nothing about forges. This one needs a bit of repair so I am wondering if anyone can tell me anything about this one and if it is worth restoring . . . .

[Charley Davidson]

Don't know about the forge but I'm starting blacksmith classes tonight

[oldgoaly]

Greg,
I have one just like it, it needs a wooden handle, connecting link, and a leather belt. approximate age 1890-1920, I've seen them listed as farmer forge. Mine came from my neighbors farm, Roy who pasted away recently, told me he could remember as a kid his Dad and Grandpa using it. you can make a sheild or hood for it, I'll look for some pics of it. Be sure to oil the lower mechanism well, look for mud dawbers/wasp nests and clinkers down in the blower, make sure your waste gate cover move so you can control the air blast. it doesn't need to go fast, just a constant flow, the handle let you have one arm on the blower the other minding the fire.

[oldgoaly]

Here are some pics for you.
http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=34&pictureid=1689
yes it does look like a catch all, I have grilled hot dogs and burgers, but I used charcoal, some of you will recognize those parts a Houdaille shocks.
http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=34&pictureid=1688
little better look at the connecting rod and hooks.
http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=34&pictureid=1687
the leather belt is from a saddle maker that made my small shot bag.
http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=34&pictureid=1686
better look at the wooden handle, I've got an extra handle, my father-in-law had bought a bunch of handle from a hdwe store auction, there were more but he had cut the round part off used them for something else.
http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=34&pictureid=1685
better look at the belt, I may have some thread and needle, wish i had some leather, as the saddlemaker is gone.....
http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=34&pictureid=1684
good sheet metal fabricating job for you making a hood for yours.
As you can probably tell I use a different forge to really work, an electric blower and speed controller, you will find pumping the blower "correctly" or "consistently" is hard to do while pounding or turning the hot metal over an anvil. You not to from Bob Haverstock, who does some really neat things with hot and cold metal!!!! Let me know if you need help with it.
Blacksmith's coal, I got mine from "City Coal Yard" in Brasil, Indiana. Illinois coal will work, has more sulpher and other stuff than some smithy's like for working tool steels and welding. Hopefully you have been saving all kinds of scrap metal??? Take care! tt

[cozee]

Many thanks for the pictures and info!! Looks like I have a little fab work besides the regualr retoration processes to get this forge usable again.