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  1. Viewing Profile: Phil Krankowski

Phil Krankowski

Member Since 03 Jul 2009
Offline Last Active Today, 08:03 PM
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Topics I've Started

Welder/generator shopping, DC only, AC/DC, AC only?

04 February 2012 - 02:00 PM

I am kicking around the idea of a used welder/generator. They are available for about the cost of a welder and a generator, and my wife is on board with the idea of a portable generator, and not rewiring the garage.

I am seeing that a lot of the smaller (5kw or 6kw generator) units are "DC only" with a few of them being AC/DC and rarely "AC only". The output is typically between 145A and 185A. Miller is rather popular around here, SMAW (stick).

Is there any significant disadvantage to a "DC only" machine over an "AC/DC" machine? From other threads there is a disadvantage to "AC only" since a number of rods do not function as well under AC as DC, even if rated for both.

I do metalwork as a hobby, and we have had extended power outages (4hour+) at least once a year for the last 3 years.

Thank you for any advice.

Phil

Interesting reading in heat treat.

13 January 2012 - 10:28 AM

I found a free download of a heat treating book.
http://www.secowarwi...m/htdb/htdb.htm

I started perusing it, and it looked helpful, so I thought I would share the link.

Phil

What did you make this weekend?

22 October 2011 - 07:27 PM

Title says it, what did you make this weekend?

I made a slot punch, a bob punch, an eye punch, narrow fuller, and a drift. I was inspired by Jason@MacTalis Ironworks and one-heat horse heads. However I did not make any horse heads today because it got dark and I cleaned up.

I also cut up another brake drum to make my brake drum much deeper. I will be making this modification permanent because it works so well. I just stacked the drums together, but I will strap them to the bottom of the table and clay them together so I don't get unremovable clinker (I did today, rather fun, really, taking apart a hot forge to clean the clinker out)

I should have taken a picture of the fire rake Jason and I made a couple weeks ago, but I forgot.

Apologies for the lousy camera phone pictures.

Phil

solid fuel experiments in a brake drum forge

02 October 2011 - 05:59 PM

Coal
pro
The best I have found,
dense with energy
easy to get larger materials HOT

con
stinky
smoky if poor fire management skills are all you have

Charcoal
pro
several thousand years of history can't be wrong.
easiest to light
easy to get material HOT
gentle air blast is all you need

con
brake drum forges are not well suited to its use
deep fire and gentle air blast required
light material so a large volume is used

Corn
pro
acts like coal how is expands, sticks together and cokes
easy to manage
relatively pleasant smell (like burnt popcorn)
easily heats small items to high temperatures, including welding (although I am lousy at welding)

con
1/2 the energy density as coal or charcoal # for #
difficult to heat large items because of the lower energy density

Cherry pits
pro
burns hot
easy to light

con
will not mass as it cokes instead remains in small, cherry pit sized pieces that are easily blown out of the fire pot even with a deep fire
requires a very gentle air blast
even with a deep fire, cherry pits do not heat metal in a brake drum forge.


So what other "alternative" fuels have you used with what kind of success?

Phil

Getting a laugh today

25 August 2011 - 01:51 PM

http://www.iforgeiro...104-blueprints/

I am rereading "the Smithy" stories and having a good chuckle.

It is nice to see the blueprints showing up in a usable format. I understand that there are still some kinks and hiccups, especially in the images, but it is still a good effort on our Admin staff.

Thank you Glenn, Andrew, and others in the admin staff.

Phil

  1. Viewing Profile: Phil Krankowski