Publications from Don Meador

Mighty Metal Miter

With this simple jig you can make accurate square and angle cuts in metal from 20 feet long down to inches in length.

The author writes:

"The cost of this book and the cost of the parts will be recovered the first day the Mighty Metal Miter is used. I've seen simple square cutting metal chop boxes for $170. But, the Mighty Metal Miter can make compound cuts. I have not priced a metal cutting compound miter, but one that cuts only wood can be found for $359. I don't know how anyone that works with metal can pass this one up."

Uses an abrasive cutoff blade on a common power saw. Straight forward booklet. Consider it carefully. 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 booklet 29 pages

No. 1459 ... $6.95

Blacksmith's Firepot
by Don Meador

Build a moveable furnace on legs traditionally used by farriers. But you could use it as a small forge, heat treating, etc.

With simple tools you can build a fire pot 7 1/2" square internally and 4 3/4" deep, blown by a shop vac (here, at least). You can fire it with grocery store charcoal, coal, or even coke.

Simple, but useful project. Detailed instructions and many drawings. Good information. Consider it carefully. 8 1/2 x 11 booklet 36 pages

No. 1363 ... $10.95

Build a Full Size Coal Forge
by Don Meador

This design uses commonly available angle iron, sheet metal, nuts, and bolts. The project requires simple hand tools with the exception of something to cut the angle iron...All the pieces are assembled with nuts and bolts. Since welding is not required, the coal forge is a good project for either seasoned or beginning blacksmith.

Even though the book is mostly on how to construct the forge shown, details of how the dimensions were determined are discussed so that the plans can be modified for anyone's particular needs.

Decent plans at a reasonable price. Get a copy and make horseshoes for your camel. Or whatever. Good plans. 8 1/2 x 11 booklet 36 pages illustrated

No. 1478 ... $9.95

How to Build the Wet/Dry Vac Precision Air Controller
for Forge & Foundry
by Don Meador

It's not all that difficult to put together a small forge, fire pot, or foundry furnace for very little money. But buying a new blower to drive the fire can set you back. Minimal imagination immediately suggests using a small appliance like a hair dryer or vacuum cleaner to provide blast. But then you find that you can't easily control the amount of air hitting the fuel. Until now.

The blacksmithing fanatic author will show you how to tame the wild blast of a shop vac to produce exactly the heat you need to work metal. He'll show you the results of his experimentation using hardware store valves and components to create a blast control, and how to connect it to a commercial firepot, Meador's own firepot design, or the classic Gingery charcoal foundry.

Conceptually, the design is really simple, almost obvious. Like everything else, the devil can be in the details. And instead of making unnecessary mistakes which run the cost up, this little booklet can help you get it right the first time. You'll save time and money.

A nice little booklet with photos and drawings worth having. Get one. 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 booklet 22 pages

No. 1566 ... $5.95

Build A Carbon Arc Torch
by Don Meador

Put a large electrical current between a slightly separated pair of carbon electrodes and you get a 9000 F flame useful for melting metal, welding and brazing. Meador will show you how to build a carbon arc torch using wood, tubing and commonly available carbon electrodes. You really don't need much money or expertise to build an excellent working torch.

You do need a source of high-amperage current such as an arc welder, or use the simple water resistor below. 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 booklet 30 pages

No. 1349 ... $6.95

Water Resistor for Carbon Arcs
by Don Meador

Build the necessary water resistor that allows you to plug your carbon-arc torch directly into a standard outlet. You get design equations and theory, and practical how-to on turning a five gallon pail and common materials into a safe, heavy duty resistor. 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 booklet 52 pages

No. 1440 ... $7.95

Salvage Carbon Rods
by Don Meador

You can extract carbon rods from used batteries, remove the chemicals, and insert it into a thin-wall brass tube for use in the torch described above. Chemicals could be dangerous if improperly handled. Interesting. 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 booklet 19 pages

No. 3029 ... $4.50

Design & Build Husky Utility Shelving
by Don Meador

You can never have too much money or too many shelves.

Here you get detailed information on building really heavy duty shelves from common dimension lumber. I've done it (years ago), but I wish I had had this to follow. These are stable, free standing shelves with each shelf having a center brace for strength.

You get construction details, formulas for calculating dimensions for different shelf heights, construction details to ease assembly and minimize mistakes. If you're an accomplished carpenter, this may be fairly obvious to you, but for the rest of us it's quite useful.

Get a copy. Worth having. 8-1/2 x 11 booklet 20 pages

No. 2072 ... $9.95