Heat needed!

[iansoady]

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?

[themoudie]

Aye Ian,

Any use? Armstrong_Blacksmiths

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

My regards, Bill

[iansoady]

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.

[iansoady]

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.

[CrazyFrog]

A useful find and somehow appropriate that he's in the oldest part of town....

[iansoady]

Yes indeed. I will report back......

[timbo]

Yes please. Great you found a local craftsman for the job 

[themoudie]

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

[iansoady]

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:



The Old Crown is just to the left of the picture.

[johnr]

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.

[themoudie]

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. 

My regards, Bill



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[iansoady]

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.