Trip

You might be on to some thing. The coal I am using was given to me, by a elderly man about 0.5 hour from me. He heats his house with an old coal boiler, and he only likes to use the bigger coal, so he sifts out the smaller stuff, which is the perfect size for blacksmithing. He gave me about 2 tons, and said that I can get another 2 tons this November. But it this is what is causing my "high blood pressure" then I might have to say " Thanks, but no thanks". I found a place that sells "blacksmithing coal" and it's priced at $400.00 per ton, and it will cost me about $100 to go get it, so i'm looking at $500.00 a ton. Is that a fair price, or is it kinda high? thinking about going to a gas forge, but I don't know. Thanks, Trip

That's one thing I am sure about, is that it is Bituminous coal, and I made a sifter that takes out all the ash. I'm hoping that my new firepot will fix the problem, we shall see!!!!!

any one got any idea how much gas a 2 burner will use in a 10 hour day???? trying to figure if it is cheaper than making the 125+ mile trip for coal. thanks Trip

The coal I use won't "cave up", so what I do, is I coke my coal up from the sides. I have burnt up small metals (1/4") but never any thing bigger than that. I have tried!!! LOL don't here of to many folks TRYING to burn up metal do ya???!!! LOL Got a cardboard pattern cut out for a new fire pot, with a bigger "air hole" and clinker breaker. I think the reason my clinkers won't go in to the breaker is because it had to much of a "floor" and not enough of a hole. Just a thought. So with the new firepot it will only have 0.5" of "floor" on all sides, so that the only place the clinkers have to go is down through the firepot. Trip

it was coal....... I just pick up free coal where ever I can find it, but when the coal I am using now is gone, I am going to Cumberland Elkhorn, and buy some regular "blacksmith's coal". so as far as I know it was the same stuff.

My fire pot is made out of 1/2" thick dimond plate steel, is 10"X12"X3.75". Here is a link to the cast firepot I would like to get https://www.blacksmithsdepot.com/page.php?theLocation=/Resources/Product/Forges_and_Parts/Fire_Pot_with_Tuyere_and_Ash_Dum.xml/ I also need to redesign my clinker breaker. The coal I use will form a clinker that covers the bottom of the firepot and s 1" thick, So obviously the clinker breaker I am using, isn't doing it's job. I've read several more threads on IFI, and got some good idea's, so I'm heading out to the shop and be like the mad scientist....... or mad blacksmith in this case. ROFLOL

Pics

I have used 3 differnt types of air suppliers. An electric blower, a10" "Tiger" hand blower, and a 16" Champion 400 blower. The "air hole" in the bottom of the fire pot is a 2"X1.5" hole. I have tried setting the metal across the fire pot, down in the fire, and above it, and 7 other way's from sunday, it just won't get hot!!! I am trying to weld mild steel. I am wanting to get my forge welding skills up so that I can take a class next spring on hand forging wood working tools (axes, chisels, draw knives, adzes, spoke shaves, ect) what's funny is that I could weld pretty good in my old brake drum forge, but with this thing, it just won't get hot enough.... I have read a lot of the threads about fire pots, and have tried some of the idea's presented in them, but no luck..... If I had the $$$ I would just get a cast fire pot and be done with it, but at this time, that's not an option. :( I will got out to the shop and get a pic of the fire pot so yall can see what i'm talkin about. thanks Trip

Hey yall, well I have tinkered with this fire pot so much that it's got me pullin out my hair, and about to start building a gas forge!!!! LOL My fire pot just will not get to forge welding heat, no matter how much air it gets. At first I thought it was to deep (5 inches) so I rebuilt it to where it was 3.75 inches deep. It is 10"X12", and has a 3" air pipe to it, and a clinker breaker. So unless I a missing some thing on the fire pot build, I am starting to think that its my coal, but I don't think thats the issue. Any idea's on what's going on here???? Thanks, Trip

Yes I am sure. That thing will slide a foot after just 1 heat on a piece of 1/2" stock!!!!! My shop is big enough that it won't make a difference, and if it eventually does, it will give me the excuse needed to build a addition to my shop. :)

Hey yall, I just built a new steel anvil stand, but I need to bolt it down to my shop floor, which is concrete that was poored 25-30 years ago. So what is the best type of anch to use??? Thanks, Trip

I am wanting to start making tools like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPgESIYOVGI&feature=youtube_gdata_player So I would like to have a belt grinder and a polishing wheel. Where do I find the pulley's for a belt grinder???

OH well, at least it was only $20 and not $120!!! LOL could it be used as a motor for a belt grinder???

Hey yall, As most of yall know, I am trying to build a #50 tire hammer. Well today, I bought a motor for it, it is a 1/2 HP 1725 RPM, BUT the plans call for a 1 HP 1725 RPM. So did I just waist my $$$ I sure hope I didn't since I just bought a log house kit, and have to make every $$$ count. Thanks, Trip

Ok Thanks a LOT!!!!! Ever since I saw that sword making video by The Mad Dwarf on youtube, I have alway's wanted a log splitter press.

hmmmmm ok Just got back from the big city, (population 1,200) and at the hardware store they had a all purpose out door, propane torch for sale. Would that work for a burner?

Well I think it is bituminous, but I HATE it!!!!!! It won't form a clinker, but the it will become a white ash that won't burn, go though the grate, or "blow" out. So if I start using it at 7:00 Am, then at lunch (11:00) I got to put out my whole fire, and rake out all the ash, then after lunch restart my fire. Thankfully though, I found some better coal, that was free!!!!!! :)

Sounds like a cool piece of equipment, but I will bet that it has a bigger price tag then what this ole country boy it used to. lol I am thinking if I build a 4 burner gas forge, and then put some cut off valves on each burner, I can then control how many burners I want, or what the project I am working on will determine how many I will need.

Sounds like a cool piece of equipment, but I will bet that it has a bigger price tag then what this ole country boy it used to. lol I am thinking if I build a 4 burner gas forge, and then put some cut off valves on each burner, I can then control how many burners I want, or what the project I am working on will determine how many I will need.

we well the website he gave isnt working right

What is a induction forge? can i build one? what is its fuel?

OK I got a problem..... i think. I am trying to find the spring that goes in between the...... toggles??. you know that moving part on the head of a tire hammer. I can't find the spring needed.. where do yall get them, or do any of yall have any that you would like to sell?? Trip

But can't you control how many burners you use???? well some of the threads were helpful. I read some where about a frosty burner, but I can't find a thread on how to build one. Any one know where I can find it?

put out a pan of Coke-a-cola!!!! they can't burp, so they will just....uhhhhh...... explode from the inside out.

well I don't know ANY thing about gas forges. so what is a brick pile forge. I want to make some thing professional since I do blacksmithing for a living. I have an old "Hoffi" style forge hood that I had used in my last shop. Would that work for a gas forge body??? it is 14" square, has 1/4" thick walls, and has a "church window" opening at one end.