bellows for fireplace

[radioman]

Instead of buying one ready made, how many of you have made your own? Any plans you can share?

 

[Craig Clayton]

The closest I have come to a fireplace bellows was I made a smoker for my bees. I used grey neoprene rubber it worked very well but for a mantle piece it would look very nasty.
Where are you going to buy leather nowadays?
Tandy sells computers
Saddle shops are all snooty ( for riding Horses )

Craig Clayton

 

[creekbend]

Perhaps this may help somewhat? Leathercraft and Leather Craft Supplies - Tandy Leather Factory Leather Supplier - Leather Reseller - Buckskin Leather Company Good Luck.

 

[forgeblast]

Making your own bellows in Forge, Anvil, Tools Forum

Building A Bellows Fed Portable Forge

They are modeled after the bellows described in the book;

"How to Make a Blacksmith's Bellows"
by Robert M. Heath

http://sleekfreak.ath.cx:81/3wdev/VITAHTML/SUBLEV/EN1/BSFORGE.HTM

These were a few I found, you may have to adapt them to what you would like.
I would google fireplace bellows, and then do an image search. You can make a wooden pattern and then use what the links show to make the acordian. I would think about using a rubber inner tube inside maby with copper tube for the front, and then you could use what ever material you want over the innter tube.

 

[creekbend]

Plans for how to build fireplace bellows can be obtained from the Internet, Lowe's' or Mother Earth News.

 

[jbooth]

Just make a leather holster for your wife's hair dryer. Works better and you don't have to pull the trigger very hard. I have both the manual bellows and the hair dryer. My manual bellows gets used very little. Only downside was a new hair dryer for the wife.

 

[Depmandog]

Where are you going to buy leather nowadays?
Tandy sells computers

Craig Clayton

As creekbend mentioned, Tandy does have a few stores left. We have three in Missouri. I can usually find better buys online, but it hard to gauge quality unless you can inspect it in person.

Leather working is one of my hobbies. Don't get to do it much, but I love making stuff out of leather, mostly utilitarian items. Can't emboss a design for nothing

http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/home/home.aspx

Last time I was in, they had a pretty healthy leather selection, with some exotics.

Your project sounds fun!!

Dean.

 

[pickstock]

if its 'for' the fire then id go a hairdryer, blowervac etc
even check tandy for a computer fan and run that up

bellows are old hack

 

[Depmandog]

if its 'for' the fire then id go a hairdryer, blowervac etc
even check tandy for a computer fan and run that up

bellows are old hack

Having an ELECTRIC hair dryer laying on the hearth or floor by the fireplace as a fireplace tool...nah. Not to mention utterly useless during a power outage. And - not speaking for the OP. but it sounds like he was wanting a project.

Working from my iPhone, I came across the following links and places to search:

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/1983-09-01/Build-A-Bellows-Business.aspx

I know this isn't what you want to build..but might be useful in some way

http://www.cd3wd.com/CD3WD_40/JF/JF_OTHER/SMALL/04-084_blacksmiths_bellows.pdf

I learned a bellows plan was published in the following magazine. I didn't spend any time trying to chase it down.

Fireplace Bellows (5:6:34). This project plan appeared in Woodworker's Journal Volume 5, Issue 6, Page 34. Nov/Dec 1981.

Dean

 

[Arkaybee]

Or--you could use one of these (Dustin-miser used for dusting plants with insecticide). It is inexpensive, operates via a hand crank and you can remove the deflector and reduce the output tube diameter with plastic piping to give more or less volume and speed of the air; simple and works well.

The one I use is a different brand and is metal but the same mechanism, i.e. a small paddle-type or squirrel-cage fan.

Arkaybee

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I do a lot of leatherwork, and I've gotten a few hides from e-bay suppliers. Steckstore is one... stecksstore | eBay
The leather guy is another... theleatherguyofmn | eBay

You could also check your local upholstery place. Often you can get scraps for wholesale prices. A "scrap" from an upholstery place is sometimes several square feet.

 

[PILOON]

As a hobby/sideline I have made hundreds of bellows.
Sold them on EBay as well as locally.
Made them patterned after an old set that my folks had that came from England.
I used oak and deer hide for the leather and turned a brass nozzle on my lathe which I later found a small artisan to cast them in pot metal.
The fancy tacks were my most costly item as for maximum effect they need to be every inch apart.
My hinge was the leather joint, and for the intake valve old inner tubes were just the ticket.
The overall size was 19" by about 9" wide.
I also cast a Fleur-de-Lis to adorn the face as well as other items.
Made excellent Xmas gifts and I enjoyed many repeat clients.

 

[cmyoung2]

Here are some pics of one I made about 30 years ago. Body is pine, about 8"x16". Leather came from scrap somewhere, maybe old furniture?? Leather hinge, brass nozzle (1/4" flare fitting) Hole in body has leather flap on inside for the intake valve. Still works.

 

[Cap-n-Cray]

I bought a Handheld Balloon Air Inflator Pump off EBay for cheap. Blows each way in and out when you pump it. Works for me.:thumbsup:

Balloon Handheld Air Inflator Pump Birthday Party Supply | eBay

 

[tcreeley]

As a kid in Europe/Majorca, women would use a hollow bamboo tube to blow up the fire when they were cooking on the hearth over coals. If I remember correctly- about 1 1/2 inch or so.

 

[podieroe]

two flat boards anyshape you want( i recommenc either pear shaped or keystone), one should be hinged with leather or neoprene,to form a wedge shape, drill a hole about half an inch through the wind tip,in the center of the top(hinged board drill a 1 inch hole,cover the hole with a small peice of leather (preferably split cowhide,smooth one atleast oneside, tack the leather at only the corners,.thisis the valve. cover the edges of the now joined boards with an airproof membrane(leather or neoprene cloth, or old windbreaker material.mount two handles(1 and 1/2 inc by1/2 inch by about 6inches) to the center back of the boards. make a cone of whatever material,(i use tin) and tack to the wind tip. Btw my dad bought an old used bellows from a flea market and stripped it down and basically copied it. Copying is ok aslong as you don't sell or manufacture for somebody else.

 

[kw22614]

Use an old hair blow dryer.

 

[turnkey4099]

Use an old hair blow dryer.

Or set my wife's chair facign the fire and start her talking.

Harry K

 

[kw22614]

Or set my wife's chair facign the fire and start her talking.

Harry K

Better hope your wife never sees this post, or you'd be that fire. LOL