calderaforge

My apologies Glen. I wasn't looking for legal advice. We've designed a device that we thought might be beneficial to other blacksmiths.

If you like I would be willing to post test results when this is no longer theory. First thing is to see if there is a noticeable reduction of smoke and smell. The purpose of the unit is to appease nosey neighbors and zoning officials.

Exactly, You are completely correct Glen. All of those elements are in coal and they are released into the environment every time it's used. It's been that way for thousands of years. Do you wear a hazmat suit when you forge? I don't and I've even been known to eat a sandwich without washing my hands. Do you use the West Virginia coal? What do you do with your ash bucket? Here's the conversation, just because the smoke passed through a thin mist of water that works as a filter and is the industry standard because it reduces co2 and green house gasses, did it become toxic waste? Rub your hand in the inside of your hood and the soot on your fingers is what your talking about. What the parts per million of that and would you consider it safe? There are environmental agencies that test soil and other materials every day for amounts of contamination and sign off as to whether or not it is safe. Mod note: you forget that your process is now concentrating the toxins. that is the difference

The first step is to see how much ccr's (Coal combustion residuals) are collected. The main ingredients are fly ash and calcium sulfate. Fly ash is composed of silica and is often used in concrete production. Calcium sulfate is plaster of paris. Depending on the amount of material and the type of coal it could also have small amounts mercury, cadmium, or arsenic. But, so does the soot on your roof from burning coal and when you're burning in the rain you're producing the same thing. Only instead of collecting it it's leaching into the ground. We plan on finding out how much material is produced and having it tested at MSU to get parts per million. The coal plants put it in landfills for years until an incident in Kingston, TN. We're only using water as a scrubbing agent which will be filtered and recycled. Ultimately the water will evaporate. The reason we are buying our coal from a power plant supplier is they have already tested the coal for being the cleanest burning on a larger scale of scrubbing. If the test comes back that the parts per million are safe we will simply toss the fly ash and plaster of paris in the ash bucket. I have not found any regulations on a forge scruber. This was the only sight that even mentioned such a thing. But, the only information I found was to avoid them. We need to find out if we're producing a five gallon bucket or a fifty gallon drum a year.. If anyone is more knowledgeable they're input is appreciated. Thanks

I looked into the coke, but the the coal is less than a hundred a ton. The ultimate goal is 6 stations,8 hours a day,5 days a week , 3 weeks a month. With guest demonstrators 1 weekend a month.

You might have miss understood me. I think induction is incredible. I ment that you could make good money with one in a production environment. I've used a hundred ton press and gas forges for production for years. As far as the school I would love to do it full time in the future. I'm currently two years out on projects before that can happen. I've been working on a design for a scrubber with a boilermaker that rebuilds them in refineries that can be produced for less then $3,500, we're waiting on parts for the prototype to test. The coal is coming from a supplier to a power plant in Montana. The school will be traditional hand forging and forge welding.

Oh yeah, an induction forge and a hundred ton press. Your making money. We could have justified one in 2006 just for upsetting. Now my clients are mountain modern. Just basically metal carpentry. The most modern tools in the school are going to be 3# cross peins and the scrubbers to pass zoning.

Thanks Biggundoctor and ThomasPowers. I believe your answers are both correct. As blacksmithing evolves in these modern days, it seems that thinking of ways to be able to operate a coal forge were we want to be located rather then moving or putting up taller chimneys were they don't want chimneys to begin with. Might be beneficial. Maybe, scrubbers aren't such an abstract idea in some areas. I don't think fear of the epa or cost should obstruct progression. I put a spark arrestor on my motorcycle and get to ride in the forest. Maybe, I but an attachment on my coal forges and I get to set up next to a college. Thanks for your time.

I'm tired of people who regurgitate their " xxxxxxxx " so much they believe it.

I'm disappointed. I thought this sight was to help out the forging community. Thanks for your smug response. I needed help finding the regulations, so I could approach the epa informed.

Cool, would you mind posting me link to that exact page please? I've been on the epa website and only found regulations on things like generators. Thanks for the info Glen. I've been a blacksmith for 28yrs. Working highend homes. What I'm trying to figure out is what is the exact wording of the regulations is to create a scrubber accordance.

Thanks for your time Thomas much appreciated. I've been reading from the epa website and it's about as clear as mud. So what you posted says that you don't need a permit in Arkansas for a air contamination detector or shutoff valve on a gas or oil forge. You didn't happen to read that you need a permit or inspection on a scrubber on a coal forge did you? That's what I'm having trouble finding. Where did you get the information about the annual epa inspection and federal standards for scrubbers? Maybe that is where I should start looking?

I haven't found any information that they need to be inspected on that scale. That's what I'm looking for. I've read the thread, but haven't found a link to the regulations. My boiler maker buddies who do refinery shut downs, feel that the collection material would be minimal on six to seven tons of coal. They've designed me a system, but I would like to clarify the regulations .

Sure, but we're talking about five or more new students every month. People just learning to work with coal, definitely not practiced. I've been to Turley's school and there is a lot of smoke. I appreciate your response, was wondering if you knew where we might find the regulations or a contact the person who had a problem with the epa? To avoid any trouble. Thanks again

I haven't approached the epa yet. The city planners for Butte, Mt. were concerned with coal smoke in the city limits. Just educating myself on the regulations of scrubbers due to the fact that a couple of your members said that you could be fined or thrown in jail because of one.

Hello All,, This is my first post. My name is Terry Haumer and I own Caldera Forge in Livingston, Mt. I am currently considering setting up a learning facility with six forge stations. I've scanned the posts about scrubbers and the general consensus is that it's an epa nightmare. Unfortunately the only regulations I've found have pertained to large scale coal power plants. I haven't found any regulations regarding a small scrubber on a coal forge. If someone can direct me to link describing the legal guidelines you're sighting it would be appreciated. Thanks