Well, I worked my first piece of iron today. But I was having some trouble with the blower, I was using a hairdryer but it wasn't getting the steel past cherry. Then I upgraded to a leaf blower and started getting somewhere, bright yellow. But I can't seem to find a good permanent blower. No one around here carries any squirrel cage fans. Any suggestions on where to look or another type of fan I can use?

Blacksmiths Depot | Blacksmith and metalworker tools and supplies

Click on "forges and parts" then "blowers", the smaller blower will support atleast 2 or 3 forges. Might be a bit costly but will work GREAT and last.


Congratulations on your first hammer day!

there are several blue prints on blowers. My first was the blower from a dead gas water heater. A bit of creative scrounging and you should easily find something that will work.
Finnr

Clay

You can always hook up an old vacuum cleaner to a light dimmer switch and use the exhaust from the vacuum. Might be a little noisy, but plenty of air and easily controlled speed with the dimmer switch.

You can find a squirrel cage fan in many places, whole house forced air furnaces, machines that need cooled, copy machines, automobile heaters, fire place blowers, laundry dryers, etc. You can find bladed fans in refrigerator evaporators, and machinery.

Visit a HVAC heating and cooling business as they replace a lot of blowers. The air movers are out there, and are being thrown away.

You can purchase new blowers from blacksmithing supply, farrier supply stores, and places such as Graingers and others industrial supply dealers

the small blower that is used to circulate the air in a fireplace insert. or check here, Surplus Center Item Detail, $6 plus shipping

I used a blower from a 60-70's car heater. Works great and is low current.

I use a fan unit that I got used from a HVAC/plumbing company. It's a contained squirrel cage type blower from a heating unit or furnace. It puts out all the air I can use. I tried a "dimmer switch" set up, but now use an air gate to control the volume of air.

These type of fans are everywhere....look in the phone book for local HVAC guys.

Steve