Eric Dennis Posted March 14, 2018 Share Posted March 14, 2018 (edited) Since you guys helped me decide to fabricate a fire pot and table vs. pay a bunch of money I thought I would post some photos my process in building a new fire pot, table, chimney, and tuyere/clinker breaker. One of my goals was to make this entire build as collapsible as I could to make it easier to move in the future. I decided on a table measuring 48" x 24" based on my space requirements. Next step: Designing the fire pot. I spent a long time micro-adjusting measurement to try and get a design I was happy with. The result is 10" x 8", not quite 4" deep, 2.75" diameter hole. Cardboard first. 3/8" plate second. I really wanted to try a clinker breaker design similar to the ones in Angele firepots. I've been using the "spinny triangle" clinker breaker for years and although it works, I wanted to try something new. The issue in design, however, is that because the clinker breaker moves straight up and down, the rod attached to the ball must be directly underneath the hole where the ash dump usually is. So my design is to have an offset ash dump which meant some funky fabrication. The ball moves up and down. The theory is that the ball pushes clinker up a bit to allow air flow into the coal and at the same time crushing smaller bits between the ball and the walls of the hole. We'll see what actually happens. Meanwhile... figuring out the correct location for the pivot holes underneath took some trial and error, but it works pretty smooth now. The railroad piece acts as the weight to pull the ash dump back. up I figured while i was at it I might clean up my hand crank blower that will be attached to this forge. Here are some glamour shots post cleaning, oiling, and painting the legs. There is some really beautiful gearing in there. Finally, I really want to try the Hofi style side draft as seen here: https://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/23197-bp1048-side-draft-chimney/ It's 4' long, made from 1/8" sheet, and measures 12"x12". The vertical round pipe will be 10" diameter because I have a bunch of it lying around and that stuff is expensive. So we'll see if I wish I had gone larger. After a high-temp paint job along with some stove-black here's the whole set as it stands now: Thanks for looking. Critique and comments welcome of course. Edited March 14, 2018 by Eric Dennis 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeb Camper Posted March 14, 2018 Share Posted March 14, 2018 Wow, looks really nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clifford Brewer Posted March 14, 2018 Share Posted March 14, 2018 Light er up !!!................. If ya can't be good don't git caught !! People who say stuff can't be done need to git the hell outta the way of people who do stuff !!! Show me a man who is called an expert by his peers And I will show you a good man to listen to ...... Show me a man who calls himself an expert and I will show you an egotistical asshole...............!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted March 14, 2018 Share Posted March 14, 2018 Looks good! Probably have to preheat the chamber to get the draft going, but once it starts it ought to work well. How tall are you going with the chimney? Taller is better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Dennis Posted March 14, 2018 Author Share Posted March 14, 2018 (edited) I have enough pipe for 12' vertical currently. I'll post some photos of it once it's cooking. Edited March 14, 2018 by Eric Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pieter-Paul Derks Posted March 14, 2018 Share Posted March 14, 2018 Looks amazing, I wish I made my table that big when I built my coal forge, I often feel I could use a bit more space for tongs and coal. I use a slightly different type of side draft hood, and it works amazingly well. with the large diameter pipe and height, (my shop has an second floor) It will sometimes suck the small coals from my fire. http://mefecit.nl/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Dennis Posted March 14, 2018 Author Share Posted March 14, 2018 Haha, that's awesome about the draft sucking up coals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Dennis Posted March 15, 2018 Author Share Posted March 15, 2018 (edited) I fired the forge up for the first time today. Jeez, what a world of difference! The chimney pulls hard right off the bat. The clinker breaker works better than I imagined- It really opens up the air once the clinker forms and grinds up pieces that have lodged down in the bottom. Because as the ball moves up it chokes the air flow, I am able to sort of micro manage the quality of air coming into the fire pot, which I foresee being useful. It even sort of changes the shape of the air coming in. I was able to get it to welding heat in no time. I still need to get used to it, but look forward to finding it's quirks. A little more tweaking needed, but for now some photos of the maiden voyage: Edited March 15, 2018 by Eric Dennis 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles dP Posted March 16, 2018 Share Posted March 16, 2018 Very nice. That’s an impressive amount of suction. "The way we win matters" (Ender Wiggins) Orson Scott Card Nos, qui libertate donati sumus, nes cimus quid constet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted March 16, 2018 Share Posted March 16, 2018 6 hours ago, Charles du Preez said: Very nice. That’s an impressive amount of suction. A well-designed side draft hood really sucks! Here's what mine looked like when it was new: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshua States Posted March 16, 2018 Share Posted March 16, 2018 This is a great set of photos guys. It just reminded me that I never did put that coal forge together last spring.........now it's going to wait until after the move and the new shop gets built. “So I'm lightin' out for the territory, ahead of the scared and the weak and the mean spirited, because Aunt Sally is fixin’ to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've been there before.” The only bad experience is the one from which you learn nothing. Josh http://www.dosgatosdesignsllc.com/#! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdJMFMqnbLYqv965xd64vYg J.States Bladesmith | Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dos.gatos.71 https://www.etsy.com/shop/JStatesBladesmith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles dP Posted March 16, 2018 Share Posted March 16, 2018 6 hours ago, Alan Longmire said: A well-designed side draft hood really sucks! Here's what mine looked like when it was new: Ooh. More ideas, more plans. Thanks "The way we win matters" (Ender Wiggins) Orson Scott Card Nos, qui libertate donati sumus, nes cimus quid constet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Dennis Posted March 17, 2018 Author Share Posted March 17, 2018 Alan- What thickness is the sheet metal on the table of your forge? So far I wish I had gone beefier. I went with 1/8" sheet for costs sake, but already have some warping from heat. Oh well. I guess I can always switch it out later on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 I used 3/16" plate and welded 1" angle around three sides. It just sits loose on the wooden base and has not warped. Rusted, but not warped! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Dennis Posted March 17, 2018 Author Share Posted March 17, 2018 Ah, angle iron is a great idea! Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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