|
Building A Bellows Fed Portable Forge |
|
Written by Franklyn D. Garland
|
|
Page 6 of 11 The Bellows  | The bellows are pretty typical. They are modeled after the bellows described in the book;
"How to Make a Blacksmith's Bellows"
by Robert M. Heath | I am not certain if the book is still available, but you could check with Norm Larson. If it is still in print, he will have it.
The Booksmith
Norm Larson
5426 Hwy 246
Lompoc, CA 93436
800-743-4766
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
| | I made a few changes in the traditional design for my bellows and used plywood and naugahyde (vinyl) for the main components. I eliminated the folding panels and just made certain the vinyl was thick enough and durable enough to take the abuse. A little silicone caulk at the seams did wonders. The entire bellows is made from a single sheet of 1/2" plywood. I laid it out as a series of faceted cuts so that I got the basic shape of the bellows but avoided making matching, curved cuts. It was a lot easier to lay it all out with a ruler and cut it with a circular saw that draw it out with a compass and cut it with a jig saw. I built a simple rack to hold the bellows at the correct height to feed the forge and the rack breaks down into three flat pieces (top and two sides), so it is easy to pack in the truck. |
|
The Elektric Anvil