HWHII

So I want to give you all a update on my progress. Thanks to you all and Jymm Hoffman here is where I am at. I now can constantly burn metal of all thickneses! A forge weld is soon to come. What I have done is built a U shaped ducks nest with river rock to get a deep fire. The air blast is in the center. I divide the fire into 3rds. The back is for fresh charcoal the center for hot area and the front is for a coaled up area and ash in the front. I find my good spot is in front edge of the air blast grate where the coals have coaled up but still hot. As I work the fire I keep bringing it forward adding new fuel to the back while watering the sides. It seems to be working so far! It is very temperamental and needs constant attention. If not it takes a bit to get the balance back. I am using about 25 lbs of charcoal in 6 hrs.

Frosty, Not sure what to do here. Not sure they are willing to rebuild this and if they did it would be in the off season when the park is closed. If they were I would suggest a side draft. Probably just going to have to deal with. I can get a good for heat better than propane for sure. I am mostly doing demonstrations for the public, but they are starting to ask me to do more projects for the park. Might just have to bring them home and MIG weld them. Would be much easier to just forge weld it right there.

Turbo, no clinker with charcoal, but there is a little charcoal in the bottom. I did not clean it out yet as it was first thing in the morning when I took this picture.

Here are some photos.

Charles, so today I burnt a piece of 1/2 inch. I was surprised! This type of fire is very temperamental? Could not get it to happen again. After analyzing it, perhaps I am not letting the fire coal up and burn down. Maybe I am adding to much fuel and the fire is burning to fast like a camp fire. Is this possible? Anyone?

Thomas it is hard for me to tell exactly, I believe it is a twin single action. They believe it could be a 200 year old bellows. The ribs are actually bent tree branches. I will try to get some good pictures of it before work.

Using real charcoal. Might ask if I can try some coal. Good idea!

Thanks, but it already has a counter weight. I am using some large river rocks to make a duck nest and have thought about make one out of some heavy flat bar. I think the heat I am getting now is because of this.

Pat Hayden ? From Kalkaska? Met him at Walloon Lake two years ago. Nice guy. Hope to catch up to you soon.

So a few weeks back I asked for some advise on working a charcoal forge on my new job and got some great advice! Well I have been running this forge for 2 weeks now and still having a big issue. I can not get a welding heat. I have a deep fire and can get a good yellow heat up to 3/4" stock. On 1/4" I almost can get there but not quite. It is a bellows driven forge with a 1 " air pipe into the forge and it is a bottom blast with no ash dump. Any ideas or suggestions guys? Also would a side blast forge be more suitable for this time period of 1700s frontier fort trading post, and would it make a difference? I would post a picture but can't right now but will later. THANKS!

With a coal fire I am used to putting my metal in flush with the top of the fire pot and pulling coal up around it. Would you say you would push your metal lower and deeper into the fire? Thanks! I had seen a post by Thomas were he suggests using fire bricks to build a trough for a deeper fire. Looks like this might be a good trick?

At my new job the forge is a charcoal forge with a two stage bellows. I have only forged with charcoal a few times and the same with a bellows but it was with a coal fire. I would appreciate any advise or tips you all can give me with this types of system. Thanks!

Very nice!

Prayers and all the best wishes to you!

If you buy a horizontal holder it will make beautiful cuts. I wish I could post links form you to see. My computer skills are still some what limited.

You might consider a quality hand operated bandsaw. There are companies that make components to put your saw in. One to make it work as a horizontal saw and another to make it work as a vertical saw. I bought one for a vertical saw off of EBay some years ago for my Millwakee and I still use it today even though I have bigger saws. It all would fit in your budget I think?

Jim, should be going through Cadillac April 26 or 27 would like to stop in and say HI ,!

Thanks All ! This is the forge I will be working at.

Yesterday I was offer a job with the State Of Michigan Mackinac Historic Parks in Mackinaw City MI. It is a 23 week job were I will be the demonstrating blacksmith and historical interpreter in the 1700's colonial fort. If you are in the area stop in and say, HI !

Frank, don't feel like your alone! I have not been able to post photos for sometime. Same problem, can not select choose file. Does not work for me either.

I have been sealing my steel roses for $60 for some time now and have gotten as high as $75 when selling on commission. Have a good friend who makes nothing but copper roses and he sells his for $85 and has no problem selling them at that price. We both agree that price is for 1 or 12.

They would have to from Oklahoma!

My dearest friends in my life are people I have met not just through blacksmithing but metal work in general. Great people out there!

Nice video! I am curious about the sugar in the oil? Can you explain this? Thank!