Thumper Club Forum

Club House => Chatter => Topic started by: iansoady on September 05, 2017, 02:27:54 PM

Title: Heat needed!
Post by: iansoady on September 05, 2017, 02:27:54 PM
OK, no-one can recommend me a cast iron welder. But how about someone who can warm up one of the Norton's footrest hangers to straighten it? My propane torch was enough for the left hand one but the other is much bigger and I can't get it hot enough. It's not worth buying a mapp torch for the few times I'd use it (and I'm scared of big flames....)

It suffers from the usual problem of having been dropped / leant on the footrests so they point upwards & backwards.

West Midlands?
Title: Re: Heat needed!
Post by: themoudie on September 05, 2017, 11:15:30 PM
Aye Ian,

Any use? Armstrong_Blacksmiths (http://www.armstrongsblacksmiths.co.uk/index.htm)

If not, try "blacksmiths Birmingham" (or your neck of the woods) in Google and then take your pick.  ;)

My regards, Bill
Title: Re: Heat needed!
Post by: iansoady on September 06, 2017, 09:55:05 AM
Oh, they look like fun! Maybe a bit "crafty" for me though.....

It's interesting that a lot of welders now don't use / have oxy acetylene as it's advised against for modern car bodies due to heat spread and losing the heat treatment (or so I believe).

I used a local welder for some work on my LR Discovery (and an excellent job he did) and he uses MIG almost exclusively now.
Title: Re: Heat needed!
Post by: iansoady on September 06, 2017, 10:07:07 AM
I followed your advice and found a 4th generation blacksmith in Digbeth, Brum. Not only can he do my footrest but will sort out my cylinder barrel fins as well when I get round to it!

William Hawkes Blacksmith, 0121 772 2694. Next to the Old Crown. Sounds like a nice chap.
Title: Re: Heat needed!
Post by: CrazyFrog on September 06, 2017, 12:08:11 PM
A useful find and somehow appropriate that he's in the oldest part of town....
Title: Re: Heat needed!
Post by: iansoady on September 06, 2017, 01:38:39 PM
Yes indeed. I will report back......
Title: Re: Heat needed!
Post by: timbo on September 06, 2017, 08:28:20 PM
Yes please. Great you found a local craftsman for the job  ;)
Title: Re: Heat needed!
Post by: themoudie on September 06, 2017, 11:08:02 PM
Aye Ian,

Pleased to read that you have something sorted out and look forward to reading about a positive outcome.

Good health.

My regards, Bill
Title: Re: Heat needed!
Post by: iansoady on September 07, 2017, 02:13:00 PM
I'll be dropping in tomorrow.

Google Street View shows this image of the entrance - it all looks suitably derelict but love the ironwork on the arch:

(http://www.iansoady.org.uk/images/hawkes.jpg)

The Old Crown is just to the left of the picture.
Title: Re: Heat needed!
Post by: johnr on September 17, 2017, 09:36:43 PM
home barbequeue, bag of charcoal, some form of blower with a metal tube directed into the coals, if its heat you need, then why not use what folks have always used, a bit of old school engineering.
Title: Re: Heat needed!
Post by: themoudie on September 17, 2017, 11:07:14 PM
Aye john,

Something like this?  ;)  My next door neighbours repairing plough metal 6 years ago in readiness for the ploughing match season.

A cast iron drain trap filled with nutty slack and an extension tube, with scaffold pole attachment from the blower end of a cylinder vacuum cleaner directing the draught for the heat. Whilst a proper pair of smiddy tongs and anvil along with a double faced 2lb forging hammer, glasses and leather gauntlets complete the outfit. All beneath the spreading Bramley apple tree!

Probably not possible in the "urban environment"!  ::)  Fire, smoke, loud hammering, jocular language shouted above the whine of the vacuum cleaner and some couthy Scots when the resulting article requires "further adjustment".  ;)

At least we can still do these things up here and do.  :o

My regards, Bill



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Title: Re: Heat needed!
Post by: iansoady on September 18, 2017, 09:49:22 AM
Yes, suburban Hall Green is not the sort of place where such activities would be encouraged........

Cheaper to pay a fiver any time I need something like this done.