Author Topic: Sawed off cupola  (Read 93255 times)

Offline vtsteam

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Re: Sawed off cupola
« Reply #50 on: June 02, 2013, 04:47:44 PM »
I was thinking about what to put on the bottom of the legs as pads. I don't have any heavy bar stock. I did have two lefover pieces of angle iron I'd removed from the pallet. These seemed just the right size to weld on as runners. I didn't even have to cut them. They also had some tabs and slots which I could have removed, but it also just worked out that they were in the right positions for possible lifting eyes. So I left them on.



« Last Edit: January 06, 2018, 03:03:52 PM by vtsteam »
I love it when a Plan B comes together!
Steve
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sDubB0-REg

Offline vtsteam

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Re: Sawed off cupola
« Reply #51 on: June 02, 2013, 04:51:47 PM »
There was enough length to cut and bend one end of each into a sled like profile.


« Last Edit: January 06, 2018, 03:04:29 PM by vtsteam »
I love it when a Plan B comes together!
Steve
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Offline vtsteam

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Re: Sawed off cupola
« Reply #52 on: June 02, 2013, 05:00:11 PM »
Welded and ground a bit. I think this will work better for me on grass and sand than pads would have, and I don't have a paved place for casting. Maybe some day.


« Last Edit: January 06, 2018, 03:05:06 PM by vtsteam »
I love it when a Plan B comes together!
Steve
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Offline micktoon

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Re: Sawed off cupola
« Reply #53 on: June 02, 2013, 05:06:15 PM »
 That looks like a rare occasion where something is actually ready to use without totally changing it ...............or it could be cunning design work making whats there do the job needed  :thumbup: , it looks like it will do the job to me , you will have to watch you dont go downa dead end as no reversing by the look of things  :D


 Cheers Mick

Offline vtsteam

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Re: Sawed off cupola
« Reply #54 on: June 02, 2013, 05:16:48 PM »
Ha ha, thanks Micktoon!

Ah well, all in Plan B,  for reversing or turning I do have a 5 foot shifting bar that I remove boulders with. Tends to come in handy If I don't line up the tractor perfectly with an implement. (I have plenty of practice with stubborn objects!)

Just before the rain I also worked on the doors:

Drilled 1/4" holes on 1" centers. But I also realized the clearances in the hinge are too close. When it heats there may be some binding, so I'll have to grind those back. It would have been wise to put washers in the gaps before welding the hinges to the base plate. I ground the gap between the doors a little to prevent binding that way.



« Last Edit: January 06, 2018, 03:06:06 PM by vtsteam »
I love it when a Plan B comes together!
Steve
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sDubB0-REg

Offline doubleboost

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Re: Sawed off cupola
« Reply #55 on: June 02, 2013, 05:21:57 PM »
Ha ha, thanks Micktoon!

Ah well, all in Plan B,  for reversing or turning I do have a 5 foot shifting bar that I remove boulders with. Tends to come in handy If I don't line up the tractor perfectly with an implement. (I have plenty of practice with stubborn objects!)

Just before the rain I also worked on the doors:

Drilled 1/4" holes on 1" centers. But I also realized the clearances in the hinge are too close. When it heats there may be some binding, so I'll have to grind those back. It would have been wise to put washers in the gaps before welding the hinges to the base plate. I ground the gap between the doors a little to prevent binding that way.




With a big enough lever you could move the world

It is coming on fast now
John
« Last Edit: January 06, 2018, 03:07:03 PM by vtsteam »

Offline vtsteam

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Re: Sawed off cupola
« Reply #56 on: June 02, 2013, 05:29:48 PM »
Thanks John.  :beer:  It only took me three years of backing the tractor multiple times, trying to get those pins to line up, cursing, jumping on and off the tractor to re-start and shift it a little to finally figure out that a lever might be a good idea!   :loco:


After drilling all those holes I added a piece of bar as a lip.

« Last Edit: January 06, 2018, 03:07:51 PM by vtsteam »
I love it when a Plan B comes together!
Steve
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sDubB0-REg

Offline vtsteam

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Re: Sawed off cupola
« Reply #57 on: June 02, 2013, 05:40:07 PM »
And tried the barrel on for size. Right after I took this pics, some big drops started falling and I had to dash to get everything put away and covered up. We have severe thunderstorms  and hail predicted for tonight. The garden seedlings are going to take a beating if so!




« Last Edit: January 06, 2018, 03:08:41 PM by vtsteam »
I love it when a Plan B comes together!
Steve
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sDubB0-REg

Offline vtsteam

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Re: Sawed off cupola
« Reply #58 on: June 02, 2013, 05:57:23 PM »
Ha ha, I was just imagining that cupola on runners heading downhill in winter with a heat on! My neighbor might be in for a bit of a surprise....
I love it when a Plan B comes together!
Steve
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sDubB0-REg

Offline Mayhem

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Re: Sawed off cupola
« Reply #59 on: June 02, 2013, 09:25:10 PM »
Looking good va - I'm keen to learn more about the way this style of cupola works, given that there is no wind belt on yours.  I'm off now to see what Rob has been up to on his (I think he is taking this race seriously, as I've not seen any CAD plans or renderings!).

...With a big enough lever you could move the world...

Yes - but what would you use as your fulcrum?

Offline vtsteam

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Re: Sawed off cupola
« Reply #60 on: June 02, 2013, 09:43:16 PM »
va? omg, never confuse vt with va! btw how's the weather in NZ?

(vtsteam, purveyor of additional mischief)
I love it when a Plan B comes together!
Steve
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sDubB0-REg

Offline Mayhem

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Re: Sawed off cupola
« Reply #61 on: June 03, 2013, 12:01:46 AM »
:doh: at least I didn't call you vd 

Offline vtsteam

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Re: Sawed off cupola
« Reply #62 on: June 03, 2013, 07:41:41 AM »
Just kidding Mayhem, I've lived in both states!

 :lol:   :ddb:
I love it when a Plan B comes together!
Steve
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sDubB0-REg

Offline Mayhem

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Re: Sawed off cupola
« Reply #63 on: June 03, 2013, 08:38:32 AM »
VA and VT I hope, not VD  :jaw:

 :lol:

Rob.Wilson

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Re: Sawed off cupola
« Reply #64 on: June 03, 2013, 10:36:25 AM »
L  I'm off now to see what Rob has been up to on his (I think he is taking this race seriously, as I've not seen any CAD plans or renderings!).

Too right its SERIOUS ! Darren this is like an international bake off , well cupola off , now if your got your arse in gear and built one it could be global.  :lol: :lol:

As Steve said ,
Quote
But the friendly cupola wars is a great motivator to actually get the darned thing done, for me
it is more a motivation thing , all done with good humor , well at least my rain dance worked a bit , it did slow him up a tad  :lol:


Looking good Steve  :thumbup: I like the doors   :dremel: ,



Rob


PS , I now have 50 kg of metcoke   :ddb:

Offline vtsteam

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Re: Sawed off cupola
« Reply #65 on: June 03, 2013, 11:44:54 AM »
VD? Never been there, by golly. And never want to go there agin!
 :lol:

Now for more serious matters. Since it's raining today, time to do a little calculating. Result, I have some small doubts my fan is going to cut it. I was hoping for 2 oz of blast pressure (ideal, theoretical) to give me some leeway with this sawed off single charge melter. I don't know, everything is so experimental here with nothing to go by. This is not a normal cupola. Or even a normal fuel.

Two oz. theoretical looks like I would require turning the fan at about 5700 RPM with ideal output @100 cuft/min. Not sure if that RPM would be a problem. That would absorb 0.12 hp so the 5/16 drill rod fan shaft could probably take it. Not sure about the bearings. Maybe. Anyway, wouldn't need much of a motor. 1/4 hp 3450 rpm preferable and pulleys say 1.5" and 2.5".

Rain stopped.....getting sunny out there......back at it.
I love it when a Plan B comes together!
Steve
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sDubB0-REg

Offline vtsteam

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Re: Sawed off cupola
« Reply #66 on: June 03, 2013, 11:51:19 AM »
PS , I now have 50 kg of metcoke   :ddb:

Oh sure, rub it in.....  :hammer:
I love it when a Plan B comes together!
Steve
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sDubB0-REg

Offline vtsteam

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Re: Sawed off cupola
« Reply #67 on: June 03, 2013, 05:24:45 PM »
Very little out of him today. Has his metrocoke. Probably bought it off a street corner. Heaven knows what he's up to.  I like it better when he posts pictures. Is he trying to psych me out? Must not falter. Must squelch doubts. Must keep forging ahead...... Aaaach school board planning committee meeting at 2:00. Wash off grinding dust....back again at 3:30....don welding duds. Then another school board meeting at 6:15. Probably dark when I get back. 600 feet to house. Must avoid thinking about bear...... or Rob and cupola....

Well, here's all I got done today:

« Last Edit: January 06, 2018, 03:10:14 PM by vtsteam »
I love it when a Plan B comes together!
Steve
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sDubB0-REg

Offline vtsteam

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Re: Sawed off cupola
« Reply #68 on: June 04, 2013, 11:44:11 AM »
Checking the fit:


« Last Edit: January 06, 2018, 03:11:09 PM by vtsteam »
I love it when a Plan B comes together!
Steve
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sDubB0-REg

Offline vtsteam

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Re: Sawed off cupola
« Reply #69 on: June 04, 2013, 12:29:49 PM »
I wanted to weld some relatively thin steel tube to the furnace base. Normally I'd burn a hole right through the tube sooner or later even using 1/16" welding rod. Not to mention the furnace shell which is .020" stainless -- backed by insulating refractory. I wouldn't even have to look at that with a stick welder before there'd be a ragged hole in it. (For the stainless shell, I've decided it's fastenings and clamps all the way.)

But I thought about brazing the thin steel tube to the steel furnace base. Starting to run out of acetylene though I noticed this morning. But then I remembered I've also had the correct hoses and a spare gauge to switch over from oxy-acetylene to oxy-propane -- still in boxes. Just never actually set it up.

Well I have a full 20 lb tank of propane and this morning I thought I'd give it a try, so I hooked up the propane hoses to the torch, and switched over to a #2 (Victor style) welding tip to try some propane brazing.

Welding is not supposed to be possible w/oxy-prop, but cutting and brazing are. Propane is considerably cheaper than acetylene, and far more available. Brazing has always been a little difficult for me -- I like gas welding better, but perhaps I just didn't have the right tip for the job. Seemed to take forever to heat up to flowing, and by then I'd burn the braze.

Anyway, The #2 welding tip was a cheap one from Harbor Freight -- purchased just for trying out brazing w/propane, and so I tried it. First problem was that since it was really an acetylene tip, the flame blew out immediately when cranked even slightly -- plus it was a very windy day.

But from reading online, I knew this would happen, and heeded the suggestion I read somewhere to drill the tip slightly to form a recessed flame holder.So I used a 3/32" drill bit and went in maybe 1/16th". Well, that really made a difference and I was able to maintain a flame. Cranking the flame up still proceeded in a couple stages, but I got it to a very slight hissing flame easily.

So then I thought I'd try a really tough test, and grabbed a really crappy piece of bent cracked and rained-on coated brazing rod to try to get some braze on a piece of rusty reinforcing bar lying in the dirt. NO surface prep. Was this a planned torture test? Nah -- they were both handy to where I was standing with the torch lit! I had little expectation of braze doing anything but balling up and rolling off the rod.

Imagine my surprise when after seconds of heating, the stuff started to just flow over the end of the rebar. I could not believe it! Man that propane puts out some decent spot heat! The flame was pinpoint accurate. I don't think the rebar behind the end was even hot. You can see the rust isn't even turned black a half inch back.

I think I'm going to like brazing with propane!  :ddb:






« Last Edit: January 06, 2018, 03:12:00 PM by vtsteam »
I love it when a Plan B comes together!
Steve
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sDubB0-REg

Rob.Wilson

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Re: Sawed off cupola
« Reply #70 on: June 04, 2013, 01:40:37 PM »
 :lol: :lol: Hi Steve ,

I am no trying to psych you out  :lol: , just work is getting in the way  :palm: Maybe I will get a bit done tomorrow night .

Furnace looks great on the stand  :thumbup:  , so were going all out and doing paint jobs as well  :med:

Rob

Offline vtsteam

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Re: Sawed off cupola
« Reply #71 on: June 04, 2013, 02:45:42 PM »
Thanks Rob. If I welded like you, I would never paint anything.   :bow:
I love it when a Plan B comes together!
Steve
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sDubB0-REg

Offline vtsteam

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Re: Sawed off cupola
« Reply #72 on: June 04, 2013, 05:05:36 PM »
Finished up the day working on the lid and lift mechanism:






« Last Edit: January 06, 2018, 03:13:28 PM by vtsteam »
I love it when a Plan B comes together!
Steve
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sDubB0-REg

Offline vtsteam

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Re: Sawed off cupola
« Reply #73 on: June 05, 2013, 02:07:53 PM »
Working on the lid lift mechanism today. Strictly speaking, this isn't a part of a cupola, but something that will be a help if I also use it as a crucible furnace.

I'm using 3/4" water pipe as the lift lever. The unpainted vertical pipe leads up to the lid. Both were cut from the same scrsap piece of pipe. Under the lift stanchion is a small plate, welded to the lever. I'm checking the position of the pivot bolt in order to make a bracket as a fulcrum.

After the bracket is made, the bolt will be reversed, and run through the bracket, and the head will be welded to the bracket.





« Last Edit: January 06, 2018, 03:14:20 PM by vtsteam »
I love it when a Plan B comes together!
Steve
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sDubB0-REg

Offline vtsteam

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Re: Sawed off cupola
« Reply #74 on: June 05, 2013, 02:13:21 PM »
The lever comes up and terminates under the cupola. That's because I don't want anything sticking out when I have to move it, and also probably will also be better when it is operating as a cupola.

An extension  made from a piece of 1" electrical conduit will be slipped over the lever when the furnace is used with a crucible. Then you just step on the extension to lift the lid.


« Last Edit: January 06, 2018, 03:15:13 PM by vtsteam »
I love it when a Plan B comes together!
Steve
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sDubB0-REg