1902 Champion Blower & Forge Co. No. 400 Forge Blower (Part One) [Restoration] 

As a huge metal fan I love to see how you fix a huge metal fan

I appreciate that sometimes (all the time) the best camera angle for us to see isn't the best one to work in. So for every time you do it in all all your videos, Thank you for the effort! Keep up the amazing work.

Looking at the newer videos, you see a marked difference in tool use and professionalism. What a journey. And you actually got proper tools now :D

Watching from the future I keep wondering when his special wrench comes out.

I had a '400 when I still had a shop (before being disabled), ran smooth and clean even with age, had been well taken care of the the next owner was happy to find it in such good condition

The covers are actually lube caps. You fill them with grease and tighten to force the grease into the bearings.

Cmon guys, you gotta do work with whatever you have on hand. I can tell you for sure that some oldtimers didn't have any proper tools yet they fixed their equipment. And you call them treasures from the past. This guy makes videos for you to watch, to see how those tools were assembled and how they work. Not for you to hate. He's not making videos about using proper tools or maybe right pro techniques. Resembles quite the way how farmers and such fixed their machines. And even though there might be some toolmarks, this is still a great video about getting one working forge blower.

When I read the negative comments I am reminded of the old saying; “Critics are like eunuchs in a brothel; they know how it’s done, they’ve seen it done every day, but they’re unable to do it themselves”

7:24... I fully expected to hear, "Focus you fuck"... Pavlov's viewer?

Thank you for this video - I've got two of these things half-disassembled and it really helps to see your process, thanks.

I dunno why I watch these videos... but It feels so right.

Love your restorations. Great editing- you get to the appointment parts quickly without missing the details.

Woah. Did you actually give up on that cog at the 14:00 mark? I am astonished, given your typical persistence...

Someone for the love of god send this man a good set of sockets, other then that love watching these old relics brought back to life.

Wow, it's shocking to see this OG video, and contrast both your skill development and the production quality of the videos. Nostalgic, like the tools you revive.....

My cousin just remodeled our great grandfather's blacksmith shop. The forge had one of these blowers. He made horseshoes for the local coal mines in the early 1900s. Today my cousin shoes horses and mules for trail riding. (They also breed mules.)

I loved the flipping bird on the after the nut!

A socket AND spray paint! OH the humanity!!! Another EXCELLENT vid.

truly enjoy watching you work. must say that you do have your share of key board critics ..

I love how people are giving you a bunch of crap for not using sockets... you seem like you know your way around antique equipment and what tools to use so I assume you have your reasons. keep up the great videos man I love them

Some different sized blocks of hardwood for hammering shafts and bolt and such would be a valuable addition to your tool kit and wouldn't cost much except for your time to make them. These blocks would eliminate the chance of rounding over, mushrooming or damaging anything. Good job taking this apart, bub. Good video. Keep it up!

I love all the keyboard mechanics and restoration gurus telling this guy what to do. Love the videos man!

i like at 3:35 you flipped that nut off, like AH HA beat you! but i have not worked on machines like this since my dad passed away. he was born in 1945, and he had a bunch of his dads old tools, he was born 1901, so it was stuff passed down. i used to love working on them, cleaning them..and well as you know..things made then if taken care of LAST FOREVER..not anymore..

I didn't want to criticize the Maestro. But y'all said it first. the reason why there's a threaded recessed cap over the bearings is to hold packed grease. I have seen these blowers with oil ports too though. Love the videos. An excellent addition to the regular Diresta builds.

The 400 is/was a silent blower. When the bearings are in proper condition, all you will hear is the faint meshing of gears and the whirl of air. Not gravel grinding about inside a hear case. The bearing are replaceable. The high speed shaft is what makes the noise.

Who designed this and how many prototypes were there before final design was settled on?

Люблю смотреть на три вещи!!! Как горит огонь, как течёт вода, и как другие работают!) молодец все круто!

I live in Lancaster pa. I love seeing stuff made from here still around today. and in Canada ay

Just got a functioning one for free, I covered for a friend at a scrap yard and was told I could have it... it does need a new wooden handle but other than that it still blows like a champ.

I have a much smaller version of this blower, it came with my portable blacksmith forge. I've been meaning to restore the entire thing, it's a bit rusty and I'm sure, twist as old as me. I was surprised to see the bicycle style ball bearings with race on that one part! Very cool.

Seen and used a few of these years ago,most were mounted on vehicles used by farriers who would go around stables reshoeing horses and race horses. They are bit small to run a Smiths forge though, you need to have someone cranking it to keep the air flowing in the hearth. Nowadays propane powered ovens work better and are more controllable when specific heat is required.

I watched the video and afterwards scrolled down the comments thinking "he's going to catch hell for vise grips" and RU-vid commenters didn't disappoint again. Your channel is interesting and engaging. Forget about the naysayers.

Just a tip for you, a 50-50 mix of automatic trans fluid and Acetone is a 10 times better penetrating oil than wd-40. Its cheap as well, just doesn't smell as nice. Might help you out on some stuck bolts in the future. I keep some in an old metal squirt can, just give it a few shakes and then a squirt or two on the fastener. Great video though, very worthy of a subscription.

Only a crumb bum would dislike this video. This is a real lost art. I love these videos.

I appreciate the effort to restore and fix old tools, and I won't hate on anyone for ignorance of a subject, but seeing that screwdriver go into that phosphor bronze gear while you cranked on that fan hurt very deeply. There's a ton of info on these things old blowers. Please just take the time to research items you intend to save so you don't risk ruining such a valuable part, like that gear.

love every part do not have right tool to take apart use what you have that is what I have done for 60 yrs still known as the fixer of almost anything

You know a lot of people would look at that and say what a shame that's junk but then there's people like you that look at it and say hey look how good I'm going to make this look keep up the good work love your videos

100 years between tune ups. wish they still made good stuff like this.

I really need to get myself some of those pointy vicegrips :)

That penetrating oil is the real star of this show.

Lancaster, PA not too far from me. Its great to see these old american made tools.

Never could get that gear off huh.. bugger of a thing..it spun nice and cleaned up real well. Great video.

10:30 Anyone else think he was going to use the fire extinguisher to try to freeze part of it (AvE style)?

Your middle finger to that stubborn nut made my day!

Vicegrips are sockets and a screwdriver is a chisel 👌

Great video. I think you could try joining these two screwdrivers on top, so they would stay together instead of going to sides.

It is strange to see you use an off the shelf wrench 😂💖

I don't know how that 90% grease and petrol work bench didn't instantly combust when using the blowtorch 😂

All hand tools, I commend you not only for your patience, but because it's the smart solution. But damn that's a greasy project.

That case was made near where I’m from. Pretty cool. Thanks for another fun video.

I concur with The previous guy....the finished product is what counts. Another great job parts 1&2. If you read this...could you tell us where you get these tools from at the start....just interested in how you acquire your nicks nacks .👍🏻😁🇦🇺

Love the videos man. Something soothing about watching things get fixed :) Keep it up.

angle grinder chuck key would have been a good tool to try getting those grub screws loose on that last gear shaft.

you make such excellent videos. really enjoy watching

@3:35 :D

I've watched a few of your videos now. Pretty entertaining but, you need a good parts washer buddy! Also, I'm not sure vise grips are a good substitute for a proper set of sockets. Just my thoughts.

before i watch diresta but you are the best thank you for showing good stuffs with love from saudi arabia

Built to last :D 116 Years and still holds together. Today this thing would break after the Warranty.

Love the proper use of the adjustable hammer lol

The nuts that holding the brass wheel you can open with the key for clambing or losening the disks of an angel grinder. Someone are adjustable in distance of the pins.

I would love to get my hands on a good hand crank blower like this for my forge. The only new ones I've found are crap.

when in doubt set it on fire or get a bigger hammer

Love your vids, really enjoyable keep em coming. That last bloody cog you couldn't get out would've done my nut in! It must be some kind of heavy duty circlip tool or something. Thanks again for your work.

Wow manufactured just 20 minutes from me! Crazy!

3:35 Gave it the finger. Hahahahaha.

I have one of these and it works well but I'd love to do this to it. But after seeing how complicated this was, I'm reconsidering.

The quaint days before hand tool wrenches

I think your videos are great. Get the stuffapart by any means necessary......eveything always looks great in the end. Good Job!!

If that tool was mine you would find three to four foot long strands of brown hair wrapped around the axil. I have to remove these from house fans, hair dryers, my dremel....the drains. But, it is worth it because it is one of my best traits.

I love the bird trying to get hardware off. I do that too. Hahaha

If you can silver solder, get a pair of those locking pliers and silver solder some brass teeth on it, then you'll be able to use them to your hearth's content without anyone bothering you over it.

That's Amish engineering right there everything looks like it was kept in fantastic shape

I’ve got a forge blower! I’m gonna fix it!

Local man burns down restoration shop today

I kept wondering why it sounded like you were wheezing in this one, then you got to the part where you were using the wire wheel. Respirator, duh.

Patiently waiting for the second part of the video. I keep checking everyday sense you posted this one. Great great videos. Keep up the great work.

I like the concept behind your videos, but please get some sockets and wrenches. BTW, Ha Ha Ha, using a torch to free pieces on a forge blower. Love it. I'm guessing you don't have any spanner wrenches either? Will the three become one? I guess we'll see in the next video.

I like to watch a master at work I have trouble drive a nail in straight

Us "Old Timers" made our own tools.

You need a set of 8pt sockets. They work for the square nuts and bolts.

I am restoring one of these also, found one at an estate sale for $50 dollars under a pile of rubble, along with a beautiful leg vice. Everything has come off fairly easy so far, but I cannot get that reducer flair that holds in the bearings at @9:35 . I was hoping you might have some insight on how to maybe get it off. I’ve tried everything from heat, degreaser, to sheer force. It unscrews most of the way, but at the last 1/4” or so it just stops unscrewing. Your advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

3:35 How I felt when I took off a power steering pump flare nut without having it soak in liquid wrench for a day

Two screwdriver and a pair of vise grips is considered a complete tool kit in Arkansas, USA

Great video Sir Breardedman. Use any tool you want to take them bolts off. It's your show. Use a can opener or a electric toothbrush if ya want. I love the videos. You want to tick these guys off use your wife's frying pan as a hammer if you want.

Have you ever seen a ratcheting hand crank drill? Not talking about a bit and brace, but an "egg beater" drill that has two sets of gears and can ratchet fowards, backwards, direct drive, free spinning, and locked(can't spin at all)

It had bicycle crank bearings in it, and the lock was made the same also.

ignore the youtube nerds you did great with what you had

Неужели сварочного аппарата нет? Можно же было спецключ изготовить и разобрать полность.

E no no non ci siamo, questi vecchi video rimessi in rete sono dei PACCIUGHI, non sono all'altezza dei video recenti.

Restauration blower whit only 3 tools :). Nice job

Good work... now your table need a restoration after all the dirty oils and stuff .

Would it be better if you have a spanner wrench to help get the bronze gear out??? ;)

Great videos man! Funny how all of the arm chair mechanics are telling you how to do things when they are not there in the moment taking it apart like you. Gee maybe it is possible you don't have some of the tools they are describing. Any way, good video. Keep up the good work.

Did you try turning the spanner nuts to left??? Maybe left handed!

I'm curious, what's in the spray bottle?

The best tools clinic! I subscribe!

you need to invest in some spanner wrenches for those specialty nuts

Power Fist parts tray! What part of Canada are you in?

You could have made a wrench to remove the bronxe gear wheel from a deep well socket or a piece of pipe.

Hey dude I've been watching your videos for the last two days and I'm thrilled every time I see the workpiece working again it is just amazing... Although I have to say the I don't have the experience nor I take apart old tools every so often, But I've seen you twice applying direct heat on the workpiece with a torch, by applying direct heat to a metal the metal will expand and thus will make it harder to loosen up the bolts, nuts and shafts. You should consider to bye some liquid nitrogen or put the workpiece in a freezer or in somewhere cold, that will shrink the metal and will make it easier to take apart. Again I'm not the expert but I've had some similar experience. Keep it up you are doing a great job.