New Furnace Build ,,, Cupola

[awemawson]

I do have a few sheets, but they are only 35mm wide by 125mm long. PM me an address if they are any use to you.

[micktoon]

Hi Rob , its coming along really well now , I look forward to seeing the first cast getting done  

 Cheers Mick

[vtsteam]

Great to watch how you do things, Rob. Are you putting in a slagging door, too?

That furnace is a work of art.

[Rob.Wilson]

Thanks Lads 

Hi Steve ,   I am in two minds about fitting a slag hole , I think maybe if I were to run the furnace all day slag build up could be a problem . What do you think ?  you fitting one ?


Rob 

[vtsteam]

I don't think I am going to, Rob because my well will be so shallow @ 10 lbs iron. But I was thinking that it might make one man operation somewhat easier -- re skimming before the pour.

I guess the ideal for one person might be a teapot type ladle.

[Rob.Wilson]

Well my fan motor EXPLODED! 

 

Tested insulation with mega  thats OK , ran up motor , bearings sound a tad dry , checked shaft 




Looks like it has had an ill fitting pulley on it  some time in its life ,,,,,,, the price you pay for using salvaged parts  and the centrifugal switch contacts could do with a clean .


So its repair motor first job tomorrow 


Rob

[vtsteam]

Yikes!


Wait a minute......

It didn't really explode,  you just took it apart to make sure it was in perfect running order.

Why I oughta....

[Rob.Wilson]

Evening Lads 

A wee bit done to the motor , pressed off the bearings .


Ground the shaft end parallel with the good old tool post grinder 




And pressed one of the new bearings back on the shaft .




Now when I removed the motor fan cover one of the wee screw heads sheared off .


Well corroded in as per with ally and steel . A bit of heat needed ,for jobs like this I use a heat gun .waist of time trying to use penetrating oil at this point .



File a couple of flats on the screw if poss  , don't cut a slot for a screwdriver or you will be getting the drill out ,  warm the ally part up , just wiggle the screw back and forth to crack the bond once its loose a bit then spay some penetrating oil on . been using this method for yonks on motor bike and outboard engines .




Rob

[doubleboost]

Nice repair on the shaft rob
Be careful with the grinding dust on your lathe bed 
"plus gas" is good for snapped studs (oxygen plus acetylene)
John

[awemawson]

Conventional advice is if you must use a tool post grinder, cover the ways in damp newspaper first, then after use, a good clean up and re-oil. Grinding grit trapped under a way wipe can cause no end of damage.

[Rob.Wilson]

Conventional advice is if you must use a tool post grinder, cover the ways in damp newspaper first, then after use, a good clean up and re-oil. Grinding grit trapped under a way wipe can cause no end of damage.

Sound advice Andrew   

I had the shop vac stuffed between the ways 


Rob

[Mayhem]

Better pull your finger out Rob - Steve is talking about mixing mould sand in his build 

[vtsteam]

Talk is cheap.      Raining again today can't even mix the stuff. Rain through to weekend predicted 

Last two years: drought. Can't complain.

[Rob.Wilson]

Better pull your finger out Rob - Steve is talking about mixing mould sand in his build 

  Aye Steve is kicking my butt  , I have been rather distracted this week , work , new shop toys , just picked up a load of blacksmiths gear yesterday    I am fighting the urge to knock up a forge 


Rob   

[Mayhem]

Better pull your finger out Rob - Steve is talking about mixing mould sand in his build 

  Aye Steve is kicking my butt  , I have been rather distracted this week , work , new shop toys , just picked up a load of blacksmiths gear yesterday    I am fighting the urge to knock up a forge 


Rob

New shop toys you say?  Do show 

Did you see the forge I made from an old Landcruiser rim?

[Rob.Wilson]

Hi Darren

Just some more rust old gear to add to my distractions 



Rob

[vtsteam]

Wow, look at that!!

I'd be knocking up a forge if I had that trove, Rob ...... that is beautiful!

In fact, I've been resisting doing the same thing, And that might get unsuccessful if I keep tripping over the #$@! brake drum and 2" tee and pipe nipples just sitting in front of my shed door where I'm storing the torch. .....no, no, must complete the honey-do list ......

[Rob.Wilson]

Hi Steve

  Its easy to get distracted    , My anvil is actually on a swage block stand .



So i will need to make a stand for the anvil as I will be putting the swage block in the stand , anvil is too low as is . I also have a pile of fire bricks to use up .



Thinking I could use some of them  on the forge hearth  , It would also give me some were to silver solder /braze if i clean the coke from the hearth .

Forge would also be  cheaper than using acetylene for hot work .   


Rob

[doubleboost]

Hi
Mate
You have gone from a CNC build to Blacksmithing 
They say that variety is the spice of life 
John

[micktoon]

 Hi Rob .......................Go with the mood I say  ...... nowt wrong with combining CNC with blacksmithing lol. It looks like you have a canny selection of tongs etc there and the bick iron is a good handy bit of kit too.
I look forward to seeing the anvil stand and forge projects 

 cheers Mick

[vtsteam]

A CNC drop hammer, bellows and automated coal scuttle would show the 3D printer boys a thing or two, wouldn't it?

[Pete.]

I hope you don't have any close neighbours - coz you won't be on speaking terms after you start using that lot

[Rob.Wilson]

Hi Lads

Done a bit tonight , made the fan rotor boss ,

Cutting key way on the shaper .




Drilling the clamping screw holes , I did this in the lathe with my ye-oldey shop made dividing head .





That the boss finished





Rob

[doubleboost]

Very nice Rob
That key way is a beauty
John

[micktoon]

 Shiny as usual Rob  , I like the dividing head for the lathe, just shows there is always more than one way to skin a cat , as John says  nice crisp keyway too. Hope you have a bsuy weekend in the shop and the project gets one step closer to being done 

 Cheers Mick.