Handcrank/electric

[jayco]

Here's a trick I use that works for me. I found this little fan at the flea market(an eletronics cooling fan, I think). it's only 4 inches across and has a low air output. Not enough to power a large forge, but just right to give the fire a good boost.

I hang it by some wire over the air intake of my little handcrank Champion and it gives some of the advantages of having an electric blower.

It keeps the fire going when I'm at the anvil.....and if I need a larger fire or welding heat, I just crank the blower handle.

Anyone else ever try something like this?

Any suggestions for improvements are apprieciated.

[keykeeper]

A hybrid forge blower...awesome idea Jayco. If it works, it works. 'Nuff Said on the subject. I might have to try something like this.

[cheftjcook]

Neat Idea Jayco! You've invented the Deluxe Combo Blower. Fine tune & Get it patented.
Tim

[Ted T]

Jayco, you are vary sneeky in a wounderful way. Cool idea.
Consider the concept stolen by me before Sam (Apprentice Man) can steal it!
You always help make blacksmithing effective and fun.
Be safe!
Old Rusty Ted

[the_sandy_creek_forge]

Now Ted, you know the only reason Sam hasn't commented is because he was already down to Radio Shack buying a fan while you were typing on the computer!

I wonder if there would be a way to sit it on a low speed and have it turn off once you started manually cranking the blower. I don't have a problem with my big forge going out, in fact i can leave it sit for an hour and still have visible heat at the top of the fire. But my little riveters forge tends to put itself out everytime I turn my back on it. That would be great to choke the little fan back to just enough to keep it from going out on me.

-Aaron @ the SCF (overcomplicating everything one step at a time)

[ApprenticeMan]

Call Him quick draw ted. GREAT idea, definately consider it stolen Jayco, thanks.

[jayco]

Guys, I doubt that I invented anything with this lil' fan idea; My original idea was to use a hair dryer,but I could never get it mounted the way I wanted it. Maybe, a LOT of duct tape might have done the trick.A hair dryer would give you two or three speeds to chose from........

Aaron,the fan I use is a one speed deal.....I don't even have an on/off switch on mine.There are all kinds of possibilities for variable speeds; heat -sensitive switches to turn the fan on or off according to temperature and your needs. If you come up with an idea on this, please let us know. I'm always looking for new ideas myself.

Ted,keeping the fire just a little hotter also gets rid of that wafting bit of smoke that appears when the fire gets low. I know you have to avoid as much smoke as possible,......hope this helps!

[R Funk]

Great Idea!

This would even be better for those who burn coke as it goes out quickly if the air flow is stopped. This should substain the fire.

On a side note one of my elctric blowers for a coal forge is a forced draft fan from a high efficency residential gas furnace. I paid $0.50 for at a flea market.

It is not big enough for 2" stock to forge hammers, but for small sections such as 1/2" or 3/8" stock it works great.

[pascalou]

The idea is good!! Definitely I like much this forum where each one divides

[steve sells]

I just came to this post to steel his idea, Great one Jayco, I dont want a full electric blower, I have used them, and switched back to my hand unit. I like my crank, BUT when using coke for damascus welding, it will help a lot. this is the perfect solution.