Champion 400 forge blower

[brucegodlesky]

Here's a Champion 400 I cleaned up, painted and made a new crank. She's ready for the shop.

[Robert Haus]

very nice! ...I have one of those same blowers but it doesn't have the three legged stand, mine has a post out the bottom that looks like it was meant to fit into a pipe stand of some sort...I figure whenever I get around to setting it up it'll be a good blower, seems very nice and smooth in operation.

[brucegodlesky]

Thanks Robert. I've seen the type you described. They should be a bit more stable.
The 400's really make some air!!

[Alphawolf45]

If this works you'll see the two halves of a Champion 400 blower housing that I cast of aluminum..My blower on 3 legs was bumped, fell over and the thin iron blower shell busted open like a ripe melon- very thin metal..Indeed it was tough to make the casting and get it to entirely fill before it froze off..It liked to trap air too and not allowing complete fill of the mold..Must'a took me 3 tries on front side casting, a couple for the rear.

[brucegodlesky]

That's pretty slick, Alpha. Have you got it up and making air yet?

[Alphawolf45]

brucegodlesky
Yes in a sense. I reassembled the blower and it certainly serviceable/ready to make air..But I very seldom have a need to forge anything..I have full metalsworking machineshop , just once in a while I can make or alter something by forging that would be difficult or impossible by metal removal methods....I never did enough of it to get real skills but 20 odd years ago I did sure love using a coal fire to heat metal ....but I still dont have a proper shed to work under, out in the open there always too much sunlight to judge colors and or wind is bothering the fire or everything is in a rush because its getting ready to rain...
..
It would require a real commitment to put in a good setup for forging, that hasnt made it to top of my pile yet....How about yourself, you use your Champion 400 blower?

[brucegodlesky]

When I run the coal forge I do. Since I started using propane, it gets used less and less, coupla times a year at best. If fuel prices keep climbing, it will be back to coal, I believe.
I have 2 400's here, plus several others. I am cleaning up and putting back into service.