Catapult for hunting post SHTF

[Steve]

(29 February 2016, 12:10)Rocks Wrote: You built an actual forge? any pics? how did you do it? Having a workshop is my dream

It was very simple. I already had a box section frame from an old work bench. I had a spare double stainless steel sink ripped out of my old kitchen, I enlarged the plug hole on one sink to about 6" diameter and tack welded a piece of scrap stainless steel water pump to the bottom - it's cylindrical with a removeable section at the bottom to allow me to empty ash out. I cut a square hole in the side of the cylindrical part and tack welded on a piece of 6" square steel trunking about a foot long. On the open end of the trunking I fitted a 12v computer cooling fan. I sealed up any air leaks with heatproof silicone ( wombled for free because it's past use by date ).

Inside the sink I put a stainless steel dome over the enlarged plug hole - also a part of scrap water pump - and lined the sides of the sink with the cracked firebricks from my old woodburning stove.

Burning anthracite, it easily gets hot enough to actually melt steel.

Last weekend was the first trial run, done in the large door to the barn as there is no chimney yet, and the raised sides are only clamped on.

It's probably too dark to get a photo tonight, maybe I'll try when I go to check on the pigs later.