Glenn

As the original post discussed charcoal from the fire, I have changed the spelling from carcoal to charcoal in the sugject line. Thank you for bringing it to our attention.

Coal, to many people, is a black rock that sometimes can be burned. To a blacksmith, it is the fuel used in the forge to heat the metal, and comes in two varieties, good and bad. Coal seams are fossilized accumulations of plants which lived and died in swamps that were so devoid of oxygen that few microbes or other critters could survive to feed on their remains. The first phase of coal known as "peat" thus developed. These swamps were interwoven with intricate, meandering river channels which eventually covered things with mud and silt. Subsequent deep burial by more sediments in succeeding geologic ages resulted in heat and pressure which transformed the peat into coal. Generally speaking, every 12 inches of coal thickness represents approximately 10,000 years of continuous peat accumulation. Coke is coal with the volitals (smoke) burned off. Charcoal is wood with the volitals (smoke) burned off. A wood burning stove is a device to contain a wood fire that is used to heat a living or work space, home or shop. If the doors are able to be "sealed" in the closed position, usually with a gasket, they are considered air tight. Air is allowed into the fire by small holes covered with an adjustment. The air flow is adjusted to control the burn rate of the fire. A 3 wheeled car? This may be an European model but I do not recall seeing one here. There are some folks that combine a Volkswagon motor, axle, and wheels with the frame and front half of a motorcycle. I have seen a few of those. Reference material : BP0051 Good Coal

. . This the quick version of the now famous 55 Forge. BOOM is NOT a nice noise and cutting the drum can be dangerous with explosive results. Have some one else cut it for you - and do not stand close while they do the cutting. The pan is 6" from the end of a 55 gallon drum, the twyere is a section of exhaust pipe from an atuomobile welded into a "T" (standard pipe and pipe fitings work just as well), and the grate is 2 pieces of 1/4" round stock. The photo is for demonstration purposes. You may add clay or sand to the bottom of the forge for insulate the bottom of the pan from the fire. Ashes were used with this forge. This is not a permenant forge, but one that can get you started. Work safely at all times and keep any fire maintained and under control. When they send the big red trucks full of water to your location, sirens screaming, the fire is NOT considered under control. Use caution at all times. A side blast version of the 55 Forge is shown on thread "Forging Trouble" in the blacksmithing section. The same pan is used, but the twere is a bit simplier in the side draft version.

. . This is the now famous 55 Forge but with a side blast set up. The idea is the same for most any solid fuel forge. Wad up a couple of sheets of newspaper and set them ablaze. Add some sticks from the yard, add some air, add some coke/coal to the top, more air, and start forging. After a little practice, and when the yard has been picked clean of sticks, you can skip the sticks and go straight from paper to coke,coal. BOOM is NOT a nice noise and cutting the drum can be dangerous with explosive results. Have some one else cut it for you - and do not be close while they do the cutting. Cost of the forge: One end from a 55 gallon drum, plow disk, flat plate, wooden box with sand, etc A section of 1" pipe An air supply Solid fuel. This is not a permenant forge, but one that can get you started. Work safely at all times and keep any fire maintained and under control. When they send the big red trucks full of water to your location, sirens screaming, the fire is NOT considered under control. :? Use caution at all times.

The events on this thread have not gone without my notice. The site is set up as a way to exchange information. If we can provide many different ways to do something, the viewer can choose which is best in his situation, or combine different ideas into a workable solution. Thank you Irnsrgn, Ed Thomas, Strine, Anon_smith, Tom Stovall, Sandpile, R.Smith, Mike-hr, and John Outlaw (indirectly) for assisting with the question. That is 9 (nine) folks kind enough to take time to help solve a problem. There have been over 500 views of the topic and I hope those viewers have also benefited by the information provided. --------------------------- When the forum was set up, I ask moderators to keep it clean, no "bad words", no personal attacks, and it sould be able to be read from the front of the church on Sunday with no one being embarrassed. All moderators have acted on my behalf, and in what they thought were the best interests of the site. I therefore take the responsibility for their actions, as I gave them the authority to act in my absence. After much thought, and seeking the counsel and wisdom of others, I will personally take full responsibility for keeping the site a family site and a clean site. The site is a family site, not family friendly, not family oriented, not family (insert your adjective here), but a family site. The standards are set high. You are expected to conduct yourselves as gentlemen and ladies. Your posts are to be civil, polite, and respectful of others and their opinions. There are to be no "bad words", no personal attacks, and it should be able to be read from the front of the church on Sunday with no one being embarrassed. The site is a way to exchange information. You may question or comment as you wish within these guide lines, additional guide lines added as needed, the rules of registration, and any disclaimers. I charge each of you with assisting me in keeping the site a family site, a clean site, and operating within the guidelines set forth. I do not expect any problems, but if they were to occur, please contact me directly with your concerns. Glenn

You NEED to put a "T" in the air line. Otherwise hot coals will fall down into the air pipe and burn internally causing the pipe to melt. The "T" should be placed high close to the fire so you do not block the air flow. As the down tube will fills with ash, clinker, and junk, it needs to be cleaned out. A butterfly valve in the air line to the forge will help control the fire. A second air line can be fabricated to the blower and aimed at the blacksmith to help keep him cool while at work. You also need to cover about 1/3 of the intake to the fan. It is sucking too much air. Throttled down, it then reduces the load on the motor and the motor doesn't overheat. There is a formula on how much amperage the motor should pull before overheating, but I do not have that information. Congradulations on completing the forge project. Now, to play in the fire. :D

So everyone has a chance to participate, and to have those going to SOFA (Sept 24,25) able to contribute, we will ask that all leaves be in the mail by October 1, 2005. Spread the word far and wide that everyone is encouraged to participate. Put all leaves in the mail by October 1, 2005.

Leaves for Jim Wilson As a tribute to Jim Wilson, we are collecting hand made leaves to assemble into an art piece, and presented to his wife Sheri. Everyone is welcome to contribute. Leaf design and size if of your choice. Please leave a long stem on the leaf so it can be shortened before attachment. (It can be cut shorter much easier than it can be made longer) If you would like to make two or three leaves, that will provide an opportunity to add volumn to the project if needed. Marks are not a requirement, but if you have a touchmark, add it or your initials to the leaf. If you have ideas on a design into which the leaves can be incorporated, please pass it along. A decision will be made later, depending on the amount of leaves on hand, as to how they will be used, whether in an art piece, a table, a gate, sections in a railing, or whatever. Send your leaf or leaves and design ideas to: IForgeIron/Glenn Conner 607 Crestview Drive Big Chimney, WV 25302-4415 Spread the word far and wide that everyone is encouraged to participate. Put all leaves in the mail by October 1, 2005. This date will allow the folks at SOFA (sept 24, 25) to participate also.

Let the PPW leaf making begin. As a tribute to Jim Wilson, we are collecting hand made leaves to assemble into an art piece, and presented to his wife Sheri. Everyone is welcome to contribute. Leaf design and size if of your choice. Please leave a long stem on the leaf so it can be shortened before attachment. (It can be cut shorter much easier than it can be made longer) If you would like to make two or three leaves, that will provide an opportunity to add volumn to the project if needed. Marks are not a requirement, but if you have a touchmark, add it or your initials to the leaf. If you have ideas on a design into which the leaves can be incorporated, please pass it along. A decision will be made later, depending on the amount of leaves on hand, as to how they will be used, whether in an art piece, a table, a gate, sections in a railing, or whatever. Send your leaf or leaves and design ideas to: IForgeIron/Glenn Conner 607 Crestview Drive Big Chimney, WV 25302-4415

Small pocket knife for myself ATS-34 stainless blade and spring, brass bolsters, sambar stag scales. Rich Hale

I have located a couple of shops that are willing to used to make the build. There are just a couple more things to be worked out. I will post details shortly.

For reference: The "bruhaha last time" There were some comments made that were "out of place" and resulted in an individual being banned from the site. I expect everyone to be gentlemem and ladies and will tolerate no less. You can discuss all you wish on any subject. You can politely question the information given, but no one will come under a personal attack. There will be no ego trips, and no flame wars. It is not going to happen. IForgeIron and the Blacksmith Forum are family sites and everyone is welcome to view the information, and to contribute at any time. If you see anything that is out of place, or objectionable, on the IForgeIron sites or the Blacksmith Forum, please contact a moderator, or contact me directly so we can look into the matter. Again, I expect everyone to be gentlemem and ladies and will tolerate no less. Glenn I must add just as quickly, that the viewers and contributors have been wonderful. It is a pleasure to provide a site for their use.

James Albert Wilson Sr. BOONVILLE - Mr. James Albert Wilson Sr., 64, passed away Friday, May 13, 2005, at Forsyth Medical Center. He was born July 30, 1940, in Kanawha County, W.Va., to William Otis and Avis Margaret Reuter Wilson. He was retired from the U.S. Army Special Forces and was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church. He is survived by his wife, Sherron Wilson of the home; two daughters, Avis Larrimore of Winston-Salem and Dani Ziel of Alaska; two sons, James A. Wilson Jr. of Arizona and Michael D. Wilson of Lexington; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. A memorial Mass will be conducted at 7 p.m. today, May 16, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Clemmons by the Rev. Fr. Michael Buttner. The family will receive friends at the church following the Mass. Memorials may be made to Catholic Social Services or to a charity of the donor's choice. www.journalnow.com > obits

Jim will be remembered (amooung other things) for sitting down with me and explaining in great detail the art of tempering. Whitesmith was as interested in getting tempering right as I was, so we hung on every word. At the end of an hour and a half of intense discussion, we concluded that we saw colors differently but were within 50*F or so of each other in the temperature of the metal. We both were doing it right, just calling the colors different names due to our different life experiences. To this day, when I temper metal and see the colors run, I stand awe. and think of Jim.

Good idea.

Time change: The anvil ringing for PPW has been moved to Sunday the 15th at 5 pm by the family.

Jim's forge will be lit and a ringing of his anvil will begin at 5 pm EDT May 16, 2005. If you would like to join them at your anvil, it would be appreciated. Time change: The anvil ringing has been moved to Sunday the 15th at 5 pm by the family. Services are set for 7:00 PM EDT May 16, 2005. Holy Family Catholic Church 4820 Kinnamon Road Clemmons, NC 27103 Instead of flowers the family requests donations to the Catholic Social Services or to a charity of your choice. The family has received many cards already and if very appreciative of the thoughts and prayers. If you would like to send a card or letter, the home address is: Jim Wilson (wife Sheri) 4714 Granite Trail Boonville, NC 27011

I am not sure the prayer list is the proper place to put this, but then again . . . What do y'all think of making a leaf with your touchmark on the back, then sending it to a volunteer that would assemble it into a tree or art piece, to be sent to the Wilson family?

Ralph, You were never dropped from my list, but I will move your name toward the top.

I just put the twyere directly into the 55 drum, and put the fire directly on the twyere. Ran it that way for a year. The brake drum never entered the picture till I started playing with the design to see if it would make a different shape to the heat. Go with the basic 55 Forge and be happy.

Cut the drum to about 5-6" tall. If you need to heat the middle of a piece of stock, you can just cut a slot in the side of the drum. It makes things a lot easier if you get the bottom of the slot the same height as the sweet spot of the fire. The twyere is just 2 pieces of 1/4" rod inserted into a section of automobile exhaust pipe. The "T" is important in this twyere as you need a clean out separate from the air hole. A longer down tube will hold more material than a short one and require less cleaning. The "grate" is large and lets a bit more material pass than would fall through a smaller opening. This was chosen to be quick and easy, not because it was efficient. The twyere stands maybe an inch tall the ashes insulate the bottom of the pan from the heat. If needed raise the twyere a bit so there is more room for a thicker ash layer. The brake drum is not necessary, but if it makes you feel more comfortable, then use it. Don't throw the other half of the drum away, flip it over and use it as a work table. 2 stacks of cinder blocks to support the pan is all that is needed, but make sure it is stable. This may mean putting the stack of blocks just far enough apart so the twyere fits between them. You do NOT want to tip over the 55 Forge when it is full of fire. This is NOT an exact science, you need to play with it a little. Try it the way it is suggested first so you have a base line of information. Then make changes and see what happens. Add a brake drum to the pan, and see if it makes a difference in the fire and the way it heats. Keep the ideas that work. When you leave Fla, your 55 Forge would be a wonderful gift to a newbie trying to get started. Just a thought.

Coal is available in NC, but you can go directly to the mines in WVa, Va or KY. Don't know about coal in Fla but it should be available somewhere. Knock the head (without the bung holes) out of a 55 gallon drum, remove the small bung (for drainage) and fill it with coal. Put the head you knocked out back on the drum as a cover. One 55 gallon drum holds about 400 pounds of nut size coal.

Throw a 55 Forge together. It is quick, easy, cheap, and you can leave it when you move. Take the twyere with you, so it is just a matter of cutting the end off a new 55 gallon drum and your in business again. That way you have a forge to use while you fabricate your next forge. Besides, two forges are better than one. :roll:

There are several photos of forges on http://www.iforgeiron.com > Tools > Forges Autocad is a wonderful idea, but heating and beating is what it is about. In the time it takes to make the ACAD drawing, you can have the parts together and a fire built. THEN make the drawing This is a break drum forge and 13" or so in diameter. Works well. Clay was added later to change the shape of the firepot and concentrate the fire. Table is 30" square and is a real help. Same set up but with a much smaller fire pot, maybe 4" across. This is great for ends of stock, twists, and concentrated heat in a small area. Great for forge welds also. The glove (same glove) will give you a size reference that the second forge is just a little thing. Takes only two double handfulls of coal to load it up for use. If a fellow was worried, he could put a brake drum in the 55 Forge to act as a firepot. Or you could build a permanent forge.

10:20 pm May 11 Just talked with Jim's daughter and Jim has double pneumonia (not single), and is still in the medically induced coma. He is in stable condition in ICU at the hospital. The family would appreciate your prayers.