size for charcoal forge
Jim H.
with, and a couple of books to boot.
We are are working on the forge. We are myself and my seven and 12 year old
kids. I was sold a nice rivet forge blower from a nice guy out East ( I
think his name is Tom if you're out there thanks). Now we need to make the
forge. 'Got an old brake drum but is is very thin on the bottom and not
really compatible with the blower. I would like to make something smallish
aout of 3/16 or 1/4" plate. Does 18" round or square sound about right for
that blower?
Square allows easy angle iron sides. Round looks cool and would get 14 gage
around the sides. I'll hang the blower off the bottom and I have a motor
with pully and belt from an old grinder that matches.
Thanks, Jim
Ernie Leimkuhler
For a coal forge you want a smaller box that is lower than the rest of the table.
This box is called a firepot.
The firepots I have made from 1/4" steel plate were square tapered boxes.
The size that might works for you is 10" x 10" on the top edge, and 8" x 8" on the bottom, and is "
deep.
The bottom of the box has a hole about 2" diamter in the middle.
You go to your local plumbing shop and buy some 1-1/2" pipe fittings to make up a 12" piece that
goes from the botttom of the box straight down.
It has a flange on top that bolts to the bottom of the firepot.
6" down there is a "T" fitting that points to the side.
The pipe continues down for 6" and has a little sheetmetal hatch that covers the bottom and has a
counterweight to keep it against the bootom of the pipe, but by lifting a handle the hatch can be
opened.
This is you ashdump.
From the side of the "T" fitting run a pipe horizontally for about 12" and there you will mount your
blower.
In the bottom of the firepot you want a loose piece of 1/2" steel 8" x 8" that just fits into the
bottom of the pot.
In the middle of this 1/2" plate you drill a pattern of 3/8" holes like a 4 leaf clover.
This is your tuyere, where the air blast comes up through the coal.
You can use a brake drum for the firepot.
The firepot should be in the middle of a larger table top where you have enough space to pile some
coal around the fire.
If this makes no sense try checking out the Centaur Forge website and look at some commercially
available forges.
Centaur Forge Blacksmith Supply http://www.anvilfire.com/centaur/
--
STAGESMITH - Custom Metal Fabrication - Renton, WA, US
"Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind."
William Shakespear
[osX]Ironman
Paul Stevens
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Lake/7316/brake.html
The brakedrum is used to make a firepot that sits in a metal table
(the hearth). If the brakedrum seems to be too thin, you can line it
with clay or dirt that has a high clay content. The hearth/table
can also bwe clay lined, so you don't absolutely have to use thick
metal. The size of the hearth depends on what you plan to use it
for, and how much space you have to work in (weight becomes an issue
if you plan on moving the forge).
If you are using galvanized pipe fittings and need to torch or weld
them, the hardware store or a welding supply store should have the
acid necessary to remove the galvanized coating.
--
Paul Stevens
Sleeping Dragon Forge
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Lake/7316/index.html
Do it for the children!
http://rosie.acmecity.com/showtunes/69/index.html
Jim H.
Thanks for the tips. I got some 3/16 plate from my local junk man ( an old
hatch cover from something) about 18 x 24. I am going to use that for the
table. I have a small piece of 5/16 plate that I will cut up into the
pieces to make the firepot. The blower has the T-shape built into it. The
fitting for the ash gate it gone. I think I'll weld some flat bar onto the
bottom of the table and connect a thin plate to two springs to the flat bar
to cover the bottom of the blower for an ash gate.
About the homemade tuyere (is it said tweer?) iron, thick is better I take
it. About the cloverleaf hole pattern, are you looking to get as many holes
in it as you area of your blower pipe or are you looking for more or less
than that.
Jim
Alasdayr Kilgour
It's generally a good idea to put as many holes as the tuyere size will
allow. However, be sure to leave enough material between holes to
prevent rapid burnout. My grate of 1/4" plate is still going strong
after three years.
Rick
Jim H.
Paul, Sorry for calling you Pete
Ernie Leimkuhler
> Ernie and Pete-
> Thanks for the tips. I got some 3/16 plate from my local junk man ( an old
> hatch cover from something) about 18 x 24. I am going to use that for the
> table. I have a small piece of 5/16 plate that I will cut up into the
> pieces to make the firepot. The blower has the T-shape built into it. The
> fitting for the ash gate it gone. I think I'll weld some flat bar onto the
> bottom of the table and connect a thin plate to two springs to the flat bar
> to cover the bottom of the blower for an ash gate.
>
> About the homemade tuyere (is it said tweer?) iron, thick is better I take
> it. About the cloverleaf hole pattern, are you looking to get as many holes
> in it as you area of your blower pipe or are you looking for more or less
> than that.
> Jim
>
>
If you can find a chunk of cast iron plate, that is even better for a tuyere (yes it's pronounced
"tweer", silly french).
I find that you should try to have as many holes as possible, but try to leave webs between them
that are thick enough that they won't burn out.
If you get good coal, the clinker and slag will form a donut ring in the bottom of the firepot that
you can remove easily once cooled.
Try to make the handle on the ashdump easily reached .
Do you need a coal source?
If so , what part of the world are you in?
Jim H.
Paul.
I was wondering if I could use charcoal resulting from a wood fire. Burn
the wood in the stove to heat the shop, then when it is time, shovel the
"charcoaled" embers out of the stove into the forge. Not 100% perfect but
at least the heat will be there in the shop as we sit and figure out what to
do next.
Kurt Ganyo
(eastern North Dakota[Grand Forks]). Any suggestions on how to get better
quality coal up here? Thanks.
Kurt.
Ernie Leimkuhler
> I am in SE Minnesota about an hour away from Rochester and Minneapolis/St.
> Paul.
> I was wondering if I could use charcoal resulting from a wood fire. Burn
> the wood in the stove to heat the shop, then when it is time, shovel the
> "charcoaled" embers out of the stove into the forge. Not 100% perfect but
> at least the heat will be there in the shop as we sit and figure out what to
> do next.
>
> > Do you need a coal source?
> > If so , what part of the world are you in?
> >
> > --
> > STAGESMITH - Custom Metal Fabrication - Renton, WA, US
> >
> > "Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind."
> > William Shakespear
> > [osX]Ironman
>
>
Here is my full list of coal sources:
Aetna Coal
James Lynn
Brown's Siding
Wildwood, GA
(615) 821-5433
Blacksmith's Coal
American Coal Sales, Inc.
1325 W. 9th Avenue
Denver, CO 80204
(303) 573-1210
Blacksmith's Coal
Bradford Coal Company, Inc.
Terry Swanson
P. O. Box 368
Bigler, PA 16825
(814) 342-0529
Blacksmith's Coal
City Coal Yard
116 N. Depot Street
Brazil, IN 47834
(812) 448-8128
Blacksmith's Coal (the Best)
Coal Hill Mining Co.
Dubois, PA 15801
(814) 371-8700
Blacksmith's Coal
Cumberland Elkhorn Coal & Coke, Inc.
950 Swan Street
Louisville, KY 40204
(502) 589-5323
Blacksmith's Coal
D&L Coal Company
Donald Peterson
8 Rose Street
Danbury, CT 06810
(203) 743-5043
Blacksmith's Coal
Greenmount Coal
Route 30
Manchester, MD
(410)374-447
Blacksmith's Coal
Keyser Coal & Trucking
601-11th
Greeley, CO
(303) 352-5957
Blacksmith's Coal
Mid-Continent Coal & Coke Co.
1058 - 100 Road
Carbondale, CO
(303) 963-2581
Blacksmith's Coal
Morris Coal Sales
26458 Black Diamond Road SE
Maple Valley, WA 98953
(425) 432-3330
Blacksmith's Coal
National Coal Company
John Alicandro
43 Crescent Street
Worcester, MA 01605
(508) 752-7468
Blacksmith's Coal
Peoples Coal Company
Dennis Hysko
55 Mill Street
Cumberland, RI 02864
(401) 725-2700
(617) 761-6929
Blacksmith's Coal
PNG Coal & Oil Co.
410 E. Second St.
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
(919) 722-2024
Blacksmith's Coal
Skei Coal & Wood
Box 394, 639 Lincoln Way
Ames, IOWA 50010
(515) 232-4474
Blacksmith's Coal
Southeastern Coal
Al Pendray
Pocahontas Number Three
Williston, FLORIDA
(904) 528-6124
Blacksmith's Coal
Valley Farrier Supply
21383 S. Yoeman Road
Beaver Creek, OR 97004
(503) 632-4366
Blacksmith Supplies+Coal
Mark Solomon
1020 S. Main
Moscow, IDAHO 83843
(208) 882-6549
Blacksmith's Charcoal
Arizona Artists Blacksmith Association
3646 W. Lawrence Lane
Phoenix, AZ 85021
(602) 973-4142
Blacksmith's Coal
Ashokan Field Campus
R.D. #3, Box 216
Kingston, NY 12401
(914) 657-8333
Blacksmith's Coal
Brumder Ornamental Iron, Inc.
40128 Industrial Park Circle
Georgetown, TX 78626
(512) 869-2830
Blacksmith's Coal
Central Fuel
1945 S. Market Blvd.
Chehalis, WA 98532
(206) 748-8808
Blacksmith's Coal
Clem Mellott
Star Route 3, Box 24
Harrisonville, PA 17228
Blacksmith's Coal
Earl Smith
#25-52550 Rg. Rd. 225
Sherwood Park, ALBERTA T8A 4S3
Canada
(403) 467-8256
Blacksmith's Coal
H.M. Stevens
10749 - 150 Street
Edmonton, ALBERTA
Canada
389-2137
Blacksmith's Coal
Jimmy Johnson
Rt. 5, Union Hill Road
Canton, GEORGIA 30114
(404) 479-8627
Blacksmith's Coal
Lazzari Fuel Company, Inc.
11 Industrial Way
Brisbane, CA
(415) 467-2970
Blacksmith's Coal
Nolt's Mill
360 Mount Sidney Road
Witmer, PA 17585
(717) 393-1369
Blacksmith's Coal
Ronstadt's Hardware
70 N. 6th Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85701
(602) 623-3691
Blacksmith's Coal
Schneider Fuel & Supply
3438 W. Forest Home Ave.
Milwaukee, WI
(414) 671-5100
Blacksmith's Coal
Streat Fuel Company
800 Erie Street
Flint, MI 48507
Blacksmith's Coal
Woodbury Blacksmith & Forge Co.
P. O. Box 268
Woodbury, CT 06798
(203) 263-5737
Blacksmith's Coal
Farrier Supplies
26729 Highway 99 W
Monroe, OR 97456
(503) 847-5874
Blacksmith+ FarrierTools+ Coal
Automotive Inc./Little Giant
420 4th Corso
Nebraska City, NE 68410
(402) 873-6603
Little Giant Parts + Coal
American Natural Resources -
P. O. Box 304
McHenry, MD 21541-0304
(301) 387-0327
Metalurgical Coal
Harry's Leather Shop
2712 Hewitt Avenue
Everett, WA 98201
(206) 252-5262
(206) 258-2082
Blacksmithing Tools + Supplies
Ernie Leimkuhler
> Ernie Leimkuhler <grand...@stagesmith.com> wrote:
>
> >Here is my full list of coal sources:
>
> Ernie,
>
> That is fabulous. It ought to be in the FAQ.
>
> Fitch
I think it is.
I just wish I could get better feedback on more suppliers.