[defcon65]

Yeah, it was a real boot-strap operation run by this (more-or-less) insane artist/metal caster. It started out on his farm where the iron furnace consisted of 55 gal drums stacked, welded and lined with refractory cement. The 'blowers' were actually Kirby vacuums linked together with extension cords/duct tape/spit. We would grind up the sand molds in another rig made of 55 gal drums with teeth welded to the inside - it rolled on a suspension consisting of 2 VW front ends. Another frightening thing was a bare 30" circular saw blade rig that he would hook up to the drive wheel of his ancient International KB-6 to cut firewood for his stove. Guess who got to walk lumber mill tailings through this spinning disc of death? Yep, right here. I'm still amazed I emerged from two years employment with this yahoo more or less intact. Like they say - what doesn't kill you just makes you stronger (smarter?) This guy also had an unusually stupid hobby of casting 4" iron cannons which he would bury in the hillside and try to fire round cannonballs for the amusement of his scary, 60's hippie friends. The craters left from exploded cannons dotted the hill behind his farmhouse. I guess he never heard that warning about the brown acid....