Bellows

[John Fenna]

I get some funny commissions ...
Recently an archaeologist asked me to make a pair of bag bellows - in a sytle he chose and from leather he selected from my collection...
1mm leather, hand sewn with artificial sinew, 6mm veg tan for the reducer pipes, wooden dowel handles - about 20 hours work...
I thought about the bellows and made the concertina type from 1mm leather, machine sewn (invisibly) with polyester, tacked into place on a couple of Charity Shop bowls with carpet tacks, 4mm leather straps, elder reduction pipe - around 1 hour...
Modern glues were also used on both bellows styles as I did not have the time in the budget to make up a load of natural glues...



there I go again - defying gravity ... easy when you know how!

 

[grey-array]

Looks good John, nice outcome on that.
Yours sincerely and see you on the Moot
Ruud

 

[Goatboy]

Excellent work Mr Fenna. Is the chap going to use them in demonstrations? Would be good to hear how he gets on with them and to see how effective they are.
I'm impressed as ever.

 

[Dreadhead]

wow incredible work John, what an interesting project!

 

[Zingmo]

Excellent. Those really need a video clip to show them working.

Z

 

[John Fenna]

I hope to get the bellows to the fellow tomorrow.... I hope to see them in action soon

 

[John Fenna]

Well - the bellows were received with enthusiasm and should be in action next week!

 

[John Fenna]

You asked for video...
This is the first video I have ever shot.
I do not know how to edit.
Be careful what you wish for....
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u142/johnfenna/P4270033.mp4[/video]]
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u142/johnfenna/P4270034.mp4[/video]]

This was the first firing of the forge that the Archaeolog designed ... he chose the size and style and materials for the bellows... I just sewed them - and to be frank , I was sceptical...
But they work!
He admits that he is going to have to refine his technique but even with leaks where the bellows were joined to the metal pipes the bellows developed good puff and the forge worked a treat. The iron was soon hot and, working on an anvil he had made that morning the fellow soon had a curled pice of metal formed from a rod
View attachment 35534
View attachment 35535

 

[John Fenna]

You asked for video...
This is the first video I have ever shot.
I do not know how to edit.
Be careful what you wish for....
[video]http://vid167.photobucket.com/albums/u142/johnfenna/P4270034.mp4[/video]

This was the first firing of the forge that the Archaeolog designed ... he chose the size and style and materials for the bellows... I just sewed them - and to be frank , I was sceptical...
But they work!
He admits that he is going to have to refine his technique but even with leaks where the bellows were joined to the metal pipes the bellows developed good puff and the forge worked a treat. The iron was soon hot and, working on an anvil he had made that morning the fellow soon had a curled pice of metal formed from a rod
View attachment 35534
View attachment 35535[video]http://vid167.photobucket.com/albums/u142/johnfenna/P4270033.mp4[/video]
That does not seem to have loaded very well - can anyone help?

 

[Dreadhead]

fantastic John it's great to see them in use!

 

[GGTBod]

Smart work John, every question i wanted to ask has been asked and answered, cheers everyone

 

[Zingmo]

That's really good. I can see why slaves were popular!

Z