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I Forge Iron

MitchellMcLean

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Posts posted by MitchellMcLean

  1. Trust me I would love to get some soft coal but I'm not a quiter and I have read that hard coal works just fine. So instead of switching I will just work on it untill I perfect it. I'm sure once I get back to the forge my new blower will do the trick. 

    The coal is definitely lighting I have no problem with that. Just keeping it lit after I place the metal in and disturb the fire is where I am screwing up. 

    All of the guilds and groups around here are full of some real pompous people. Not really willing to open there arms and help. They say they are but, personal being ridiculed by a " forge master of 6 years" just for asking questions... not my cup of tea. With all of your help I will figure this out.

  2. Like I said before guys I'm extremely greatfull, you all have led me to dip a little into my saving so I can order a blower (I enjoy the fact that they look like turbos) . Did some research and found the one I think I want. It's 180 CFM blower. I'm not sure if that's enough but like DSW said I can just divert excessive air. 

    I'm sorry to say but hard must be the coal for me, I got a call back from a sweet old lady in a town over from me. She had me do some work on her place and she rewarded me with her connection to a half ton of FREE hard coal.

  3. Alright, I will start by saying I am New to the wonder full job of Blacksmithing. I have learned a load of information Rom this particular site and I have heeded every single bit of advicenter. Now that y'all know I'm a boot, I can tell you my problem. This is the 6th day straight I have been out at my forge attempting to bend metal. I for the life of me, can not get my Anthracite (hard coal) to stay at forging temperature. I will walk you through step by step on how I start my day of smithing. 

    First I set up my substitute blower system, which is composed of Two low quality air compressors. The compressors have 1/4 inch hoses that run to a duct tape reinforced 50 gallon trash bag, which then has a two inch pipe that leaders to the bottom of my fire pot. Then I start a whole bunch (about 3 very big handfuls)  of lump charcoal with a chimney starter an some newspaper for fuel. Once every single piece of charcoal is lit up I dump them into my fire pot. Following this I spread pea sized hard coal over the charcoal, I wait a couple of minutes while regularly pumping my (blower bag) a once the small hard coal is lit I add another decent amount of pea sized coal. Once again I wait another five too ten minutes while still pumping air. When it is all at a decent temperature I add some slight large pieces of hard coal (these pieces were broken up pieces of nut sized anthracite) After they start to light up I cover the fire pot with my largest coal.

    At this point my fire pots center is very hot and glows bright orange all the way up to almost white (anthracite gets really xxxx hot) I continue pumping air and I wait a few minutes to get the core as glowing s possible. Here is we're it goes down hill, I go to add whatever piece of metal I happen to be attempting to work on. The piece sits and starts getting up to temperature, sometimes I can get a one or two cycles through the forge to the anvil. However most of the time the fire just starts to die out. I have wasted countless amounts of coal and headaches trying this. I am one of the most patient people I know and it is even frustrating me.

    I consider myself a student of life and would be very appreciative if someone could share some new knowledge with me. Please ask anything that you need to know in case I missed it.  I appreciate it very much.

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