Making an electric blower adjustable

[Bruce Beamish]

Hi Eyrian, As I promised here's the photos of my setup with the air gate on the inlet side of the blower.
The old blower I've been using for about 6 years with no problems and it's very quiet and hardly gets any warmer than about 75-80 degrees F after a full day.
I've included photos of a new blower so you can see what it's like inside and it's label, the blower casing is about 5" inches in diameter, the ruler is a 12".
The model I use is a Fasco EB80.I've checked the Fasco USA site and I couldn't find it so its probably an Australia only model. However it is an 80cfm single phase centrifugal blower and there some of them on the Fasco USA site they look a little different but I reckon they're basically the same blower. A US supplier sells this model for $66.00 (That's about half what I pay in Australia for the EB80). Now to clarify further the air delivery (tuyere)system I use is a modified German system with a grate (the coals burn on top of the grate) and I use only coke or charcoal as a fuel, not coal.
There is little restriction to the air flow from the blower and the air coming out of the grate is fairly low pressure but at good volume. If you are using a more traditional single outlet tuyere in your forge this may alter your blower requirements from mine. I'm sure Fasco will have something to suit as they manufacture blowers and motors for just about anything and are OEM suppliers for many manufacturers.
I hope this helps, and the photos work,its my first effort at an upload.

Cheers.

[irnsrgn]

Surplus Center

[larry harley]

ther,s a difference between velocity and volume
u need to be able to controll both
harley

[irnsrgn]

I think it was Bob Patrick or maybe Frank Turley that stated at one of our Conferences that you only need 2 ounces of pressure to make a forge firepot work well.

[Bruce Beamish]

Both Irnsrgn and Larry make valid points. I was just trying to point out that the system I use is different and what works for me may not work with a traditional setup, I've not used these blowers with a single outlet tuyere either bottom or side blast. My handcranked Lancaster blower that I use on my portable demo forge (with the same grate system) is capable of a lot more pressure at the outlet but when the forge is burning well I hardly have the handle turning over.
Cheers.

[apprentice]

i put a sewing machine petal on mine it works great