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+---- Thread: Wheel rim forge (/thread-2801.html)
Wheel rim forge - Mayhem - 08-14-2015
This is something I pulled together from scrap parts laying around a few years back. A classic example of make it up as you go along, using nothing but crap that you have laying around!
The forge section is an old split rim off a Toyota Landcruiser. The base is another rim but could be anything that provides a stable platform. The air is piped through the column (which is simply a section of pipe), where a plate is welded over the centre of the bottom of the rim, covering the hub and the six stud holes.
[attachment=11600]
I then welded a plate over the hub hole and blew some small holes through with the plasma cutter. I had to put some baffles over the stud holes, as turning on the air tended to shoot hot coals into the air! I also used some mesh to block other holes around the rim to stop coals dropping through. Finally I cut two sections out so I could heat longer parts without having them roll off.
[attachment=11599]
Finally, I added a couple of sections of pipe to the underside, through which a couple of lengths of pipe can be slipped through and the forge moved whilst hot (if needed).
[attachment=11601]
As I mentioned in the home made tools thread, I made it for annealing and melting aluminium and lead etc. As such, I use hardwood off-cuts that I get free from a friend who runs a hardwood timber flooring business. I've tried BBQ heat beads and they can get the job done but produce a lot of ash. The hardwood leaves coals behind and very little ash.
Here I am making some (rudimentary) tongs - 1. no air, 2. air (perhaps a little much), 3. the tongs taking shape and 4. the aftermath.
[attachment=11602]
[attachment=11603]
[attachment=11604]
[attachment=11605]
Here is a drill coupler that I am annealing - 1. ready to come out of the fire and 2. in the ash bucket waiting to be covered with ash and left to cool slowly.
[attachment=11606]
[attachment=11607]
I have tried a few different methods of air delivery from an old vacuum cleaner, a heater fan off a car and a fan from an industrial theater light. However, I cannot recall which worked the best. The vacuum had lots of air but was very noisy and I think the bearing in the heater fan crapped out. I'll have to fire it up soon and see which I want to use. I have a half shaft that could do with annealing.
RE: Wheel rim forge - oldskoolron - 09-09-2016
cool setup man . I got an old kenworth brake drum somewhere beside the shed my son asked if he could make a forge with it but its still beside the shed lol .he most probably seen a snake using it as home an left it well alone ..wouldn't the heat from the fire melt the rim if its steel ??? I was always worried if I made one outta a steel rim id stuff it up with the heat I needee an set fire to the bush around my place
RE: Wheel rim forge - Mayhem - 09-09-2016
I doubt you could get it hot enough to melt. I certainly haven't.
RE: Wheel rim forge - Hawkeye - 09-09-2016
I have a forge I made years ago out of a truck brake drum. The drum never gets a glow on, since the outside layers of coal are coking off and act as an insulator. The real fire is at the centre. I think the steel rim will do fine.
RE: Wheel rim forge - Mayhem - 09-10-2016
Exactly - all the work is where the air is.