Making Bialaddin bowlfire guards

You'll get there Steve . Keep up the good work mate . I will definitely have one when you have a spare moment; but I think that you may be busy for a long time . Good luck - Steve.

 

Silver solder!?
Surely you are going to TIG them together?
If you are going to work on stainless, I really recommend you to do it all the way.
It will look much better, be much more durable and when polishing, the welds will be just as white shining as the rods.

I'm a real stainless fanatic myself.
I even polished my firstly made stainless still into a mirror shine for no other reason than it was possible.

 

What - as in distilling alcohol?

 

Yes, of course.
It's still (pun absolutely intended ) one of the most popular 'hobbies' in an over-taxed country like Sweden.

 

I think TIG welding is a bit out of my comfort zone at the moment? Looking at the original guards I think they must have been spot welded then chrome plated?

I wonder why they didn't make the original guards out of stainless?

Steve.

 

It was the mid '50s so we were still recovering from the war and people didn't have the money they have today. The bowlfires weren't designed or expected to last almost 60 years - why would they? - in those days it was thought we'd all be going around using jet-packs by 2000...

Incidentally, no sooner the word than two years later, the deed Ta-da!

 

I had some time so made up the first guard in stainless. Not happy enough with this first one to sell on but I learnt a few more tips to make things easier.

The problem I had was the large ring has so much spring that when soldering the first few spokes, the ring would distort as the heat was applied and bend in that area! I made another jig to stop this happening but only half way through the first attempt.

The next one should be good to go?



Steve.

 

I'm guessing but I suppose you'd have to solder the N-S and E-W rings on first and then do the others first one side, then the other and repeat that until all were in place.

A similar sort of idea to tightening cylinder head nuts/bolts from the centre outwards in a set sequence to avoid distortion. Great progress so far - it was always going to take a while to sort out the intracacies of the manufacturing process...

 

Yep, that's the way I have done it n-s, e-w. Once they are on I solder the small ring in place and it then gets a bit easier!

Now instead of using tape, I use a really technical bit of kit to hold the spokes in place on the small ring while soldering them to the large ring, a wooden clothes peg

Steve.

 

Looks promising Steve, love to see people making stuff



(Christer, love to see,know more about this still of yours, maybe a thread in the the open section as and when you get the time )

 

Me too , well done 8) , that really looks the buisness 8)

A pat on the back for you my lad 8)

Stu

 

Steve,

Just picked up a Bialaddin Bowlfire today, minus the guard as always! This one is going to be a keeper for me as it is in great shape . So, I am up for one of your repro guards when you have one available. PT me and we can talk about it. I have repro hood-caps available and can get repro steel reflectors made, or am ready to pay cash. Good project mate - Steve.

 

Work has suddenly picked up so the guards have been put on the back-burner for a wee bit but as soon as they are done I will report back.

I have all the rings and spokes made up for 3 complete guards, just needs soldering together.

Steve

 

Sorry about the delay with these guards but with work and basically selling most of my life's possessions on ebay, I have been swamped.

I will hopefully have the first guard for Sidders some time next week if still interested?

Steve

 

Hi Steve,

You have me on the list for one . I have a cracking good BBF that just needs your guard and Ray's (longilly) mantle. again. Great project mate, and good luck with the production. All best to you - Steve.

 

Havnt forgotten you Steve should be able to get down the unit tomorrow or Tuesday

 

OK I have 3 orders so far for the stainless...

Sidders
Jean J
Shed man

However, I will keep stainless version 1 for myself and sell on an original Bialaddin bowlfire guard it replaces.

First dibs in this thread if it's allowed for the original guard in usual condition £20 posted, if not it will go on Ebay with the galv' version 1 guard as an auction?

Going to solder up stainless no.2 Tuesday. They look great polished up!!

Steve

 

Yes please Steve. Will PT you arrange payment etc.

Many thanks, Sid.

 

I have finished up one guard today, however I found out that the steel I had thought was Stainless and which I used for the clips was not!!

Have ordered a small sheet of 0.5mm Stainless.

Sorry, I have had to use Photobucket for the pics as I can't upload them the other way without them being grainy??










Steve

 

Received my guard from Steve yesterday. Looks great and a perfect fit. If anyone is thinking of ordering one, Steve has done a top quality job. You won't be disappointed. Bit of a bargain too in my opinion. Will post pics over the weekend.

Sid.

 

Looking forward to seeing the finished item on your Bialaddin Sidders 8)
If the previous pic's are anything to go by it'll be really great 8)

Stu

 

Looks good Steve, well done that man 8)

 

Here's my Bowlfire fitted with it's new guard. Had this for a while and it's in really good condition. Paint is original as far as I can tell and the reflector is spotless. Just needed Steve's guard to finish it off.

 

Nice BBF Sidders , and well done Steve with the guard. Looking forward to mine Steve when you get the time. No great rush mate, but seeing Sidder's I'm keen to put it on the heater. Great work . Steve.

 

Good restoration and an excellent guard AATP,,,,hopefully that'll be the end of the Lidl fruit bowls and the hanging baskets.

 

I have one of the Lidle fruit bowl variants, and I am keeping it pristine, unused, and double wrapped in anti-corrosive paper because it is going to be a rare collectable item in years to come . How many years I don't know , but it will certainly puzzle many future lamp collectors; that's for sure . Have fun collecting - Steve

 

I've got three of the Lidl fruit bowls .

Terry

 

I've one of Lidls finest gracing one of my bowlfires and a tatty original on the other,,,I wont mention the silver hammerite hanging basket

 

I'm glad the guards are well received, I hope to get better at making them as I go but stainless does like to move around when heated, especially to silver solder temperatures(basically red hot!)

I have updated the post in Members Services about cost and postage details.

Thanks,

Steve

 

Good afternoon
For those that may require a 'quick fix' for a missing Bialaddin Bowl Fire Guard, I have found a chrome wire fruit bowl on Ebay, which is the EXACT size of the outer diameter of the reflector bowl.
Cost is £7.20
It does have a very 'Deco' look about it and is made of quite substantial wire (Around 6mm)
With a little bit of judicious trimming off of the little ball feet and a few odd sprigs, I think it would look very presentable.
I am working on mine over the next couple of days.
Ebay link atached for any interested parties.

Premium Chrome Wire Fruit Bowl/Basket/Holder Display Kitchen Storage - 324226 1000032422602 | eBay