Part #2 of building my
Deep Throat Furnace.
Part #2 of building my
Deep Throat Furnace.
Well like all shop tools/equipment things
break and this time it was a biggie!
My big 7HP 60 gallon upright compressor over heated and blew the pressure sensor line, (Not once, but 3 times), so it's been about two weeks for parts and repairs, but I think (hope) it's fixed now.
I did manage to weld on several reinforcing plates and the support bands. I also made the hinge/pivot bars for the top.
I still have to work out the pivot support arms and how wide and high the reinforcing plate would have to be, also how heavy a gauge it should be to prevent the tank body from flexing when I'm pouring. Right now I'm thinking along the lines of 12 gauge and 3/4 black pipe for the pivot arms.Well I'm back, (kind-a... sort-a), the compressor repair lasted right to the end of this work session, then blew that line as well.
Here's some pics. of the reinforcement banding and the other support plates.
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Those three vertical welds is were I first took my air saw and cut slots then welded thru it. This really stiffens it up. This is the front of the dome/lid and the two outside welds are where the pivot arms will be welded. Then of course you need to add the bent nails to hold in the refractory.
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Next I took 12 gauge about 6" by 5" and hammer formed them to the side of the tank, then I was going to use 3/4" black pipe for the pivot arms, but I didn't have any shorts laying around so I opted for a couple of pieces of 1" instead.... YEAH I KNOW!!! OVER KILL!!! but that's all I had.
I don't know if you can see it, but the pivot point is at 10-1/2" up and 1-1/4" forward of center. This is to keep the weight to the back so there's no possibility of tilting when you're lifting the lid and working inside.
FINALLY; after fighting with those pivot tubes for at least an hour and a half -- (either one was to high or it move when I tacked it, or it was cocked so much I had to break it off and retack it for the fiftyth time) --- "GOT IT!!" It's close enough for who it's for... ME!
Next was welding the dome/lid to the front pivot arms.
Then it was just a matter of cutting/bracing the arms and welding them in place to their mounting plates.
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There she is... 16-1/2" to the top of the tank body. I'm still think about adding a latching strap of some kind to lock the lid to the tank during the pour.
Now that everything is ready --- I have to wait for another pay check to afford the 55 lb. bag of refractory. It's not the cost of the refractory that hurts it the $65.00 shipping charges.
And Now it's on to Part #3
(Making the molds and packing in the refractory )
Back to Part #1
Back to the Foundry Page