SomeGuy

Mod:  I have added SomeGuy's apology to the closed thread.

I apologize for how I handled the metal meter thread. I should have handled it differently. I understand this isn't a website for backyard science experiments. I'm sorry about the whole thing. Please forgive my mishandling of it.

I suppose the ideas are far fetched perhaps. You never know though, and it never hurts to think outside the box a little. If you all wouldn't mind taking a little advice from some guy, please try to be a little more considerate of how you teach things. If you want to be a good teacher try not to be condescending, and try not to expect everyone who comes here to be a physicist. Some guys, like myself are just looking for some basic info.

No I didn't built it myself, its an old 50 amp welder I obtained a couple years ago.. However, its not uncommon for people to build and modify transformers. ITs not like a transformer is a rocket engine. I never meant for the video to be a step by step guide, but only shared it for the ideas themselves. You can buy carbon rod online. I never suggested opening up batteries. I think buying the rod would be better than buying batteries. I also think you are overacting about the batteries. Its not mercury or uranium. .If you notice I did say I was wondering if there were a safe way to build and use a transformer that was shown in the first video. I wasnt ignoring anyone's safety warnings. I was just wondering. The second video isn't anything scary, its just a carbon arc furnace. I'm sorry if I seemed like I was being unreasonable, but I like to think outside the box a little. I am allowed to think correct? Is this still a free nation?  No crime in that.

11 hours ago, Buzzkill said:

If you like that shape you may want to look for a non-functional oiless or "pancake" compressor that has a tank you can repurpose.  They are fairly cheap compressors and therefore people tend to toss them out and buy a new one rather than repair them when something goes wrong.  Since all you need is a shell to hold insulation and refractory it doesn't even matter if the tank still holds air.

That is a good idea, thanks.

Thanks Andy.

3 hours ago, the iron dwarf said:

Thanks for all the thoughtful replies. You know, carbon arc gouging is a welding process which uses carbon arc rods to cut steel. I actually have a small 50 amp welder that is set up for carbon arc gouging. I'm sorry you guys think that is dangerous. Thanks for the warm welcome.

3 hours ago, the iron dwarf said:

I think you will find it is not an induction heater ( that induces a current in a piece of metal within the coil ) but a convection heater that heats air by means of an element as well as radiating heat from it.

post a picture of the heater and one of the plate with the specs on if you can

I don't know, I only know they call it an induction heater. I have an induction cooktop as well. IT uses electromagnetism to cook food.

1 hour ago, Frosty said:

If your electric fireplace is actually an induction heater, not impossible just unlikely the induction field is only effective on the glowing element and isn't going to be much but a fire hazard if you try modifying it. Same for an induction stove, they are indeed induction heaters, the mechanism sets up a high frequency AC electro magnetic field that excites the atoms in metals in it. It may boil a couple gallons of soup in a couple minutes but it's NOT going to heat steel like a forge.

Exactly how does not knowing anything about electronics makes you think you should try modifying electronics?

Frosty The Lucky.

I didn't think I should modify it, I only asked about it. I have enough understanding to ask questions. That's how you learn.

What about this? Does this metal arc furnace have any potential as a forge? I tried to post the video but it wont let me, all it will post is the link.

https://youtu.be/VTzKIs19eZE

Yes iron drarf, I have an induction style space heater. At least that's what they call it. Its one of those imitation fire place/wood burner heaters. I guess from what you are telling me is that it wont be an easy thing to build without electronics experience. Thanks for the reply, much appreciated.

Yes, he did need the disclaimer. The guy  also built his own hydrogen generator too.

I just figured maybe he said that to keep people from killing themselves but I'm wondering if there is a safe way to use this, and if so if it would heat larger bars of steel. The design is surely simple enough.

No kozzy I haven't seen anything under $1500 or more. How much do those forges cost?

Why are my messages always running together?

I have always wanted an induction forge but I don't know how to build one and I cant afford to buy one because they seem very expensive. I saw this video on youtube, its a modified transformer which is used for heating metal. This guy only used it to heat small bits  of metal but I'm wondering if it can be used to heat larger bars of steel. Does anyone have an opinion on this?

I haven't read this entire thread, but I have a question if no one minds. Is it possible to take an induction heater, such as space heater, and convert it into an induction forge? If so, how difficult would it be? Thanks.

Daniel.85, how hard is it to build one of these? I'm not knowledgeable about electronics. How cheap can I build one?

I thought that if I ever made a touchmark I might just try to get a cheap Harbor freight letter and number stamp set,  and grind the sides down on two of them so it places the letters closer together, and stagger them so they are offset from each other slightly. I would then tack weld them together I guess. Maybe I would just use my initials or something. Maybe it might be something to try if the other thing doesn't work out. Or maybe this is just a stupid idea, I don't know but I might try it. Seems simple.

Something like this only it wouldn't be cursive letters most likely.

Or this maybe

This of course is the cheap letter stamp set I was referring to

Without a welder, modifying vice grips might be difficult. You might try making these quick and easy tongs. They look easy and cheap. Check out the link below.

https://youtu.be/y3JtJI5MJdI

Thanks for the reply Mike. You're right Mikey, I don't love the forge I just love the way it looks. Its cool looking but also it looks like it might serve my needs. I was just going to mimic the design and build it out of a scrap propane bottle. Will it work good? I don't know. Will I actually build it? I don't know. I understand my search for perfection isn't so simple to answer. In the end however I just want to use the least amount of gas to heat the most amount of steel. That's all I really want. I don't care if the forge looks like work of art or a POS. I just want efficiency.

Do you have a welder? I welded a box jaw onto my vice grips. I only needed to weld on one jaw. They seem to work pretty well but I do need to tighten the adjusting screw once in a while because they tend to loosen up after a while. I got the idea after seeing this pic on the internet. They seem to be using forged tongs but I used vice grips instead. These tongs are adjustable and that's what sparked my attention. I bet channel locks might also work well but I haven't tried that yet. I do plan on forging a set of tongs but for now my one pair gets me by.

https://www.pinterest.com/luckyacresforge/tongs/

12 minutes ago, Pancho07 said:

i haven't had the chance to try again since I got it "done" but I'm thinking that I don't have enough air pressure. My first thought for a fix is to straighten up the duct. I'm not real sure why but I'm guessing that the horizontal 90• before the vertical 90• is taking away a lot of my air flow. I'm thinking I'll straighten that up first, if that doesn't work then I'll try I stronger fan. Was given a small 12v squirrel cage fan. Won't be hard to run a simple test with that without too many modifications with all the slip fit connections I have. Does anyone have any air supply advice? 

Thanks in advance , Pancho 

I have problems with my wood forge. I burn raw wood in it. My problem is I didn't think to add a clean out and the ash fills up the tube. I thought it might blow out by itself but it doesn't all blow out. I have a straight pipe running across the floor of my forge. I built it after the Whitlox wood forge. Anyway, my temporary fix was to use a shop vac with a large PVC ball valve to adjust the air pressure, or flow, whatever. Maybe try that. I am going to build another forge, similar but with a clean out in front so I can blow out the ash.

10 hours ago, arkie said:

Cruise on over to weldingweb...search Longevity.  Be prepared for some bad news about them.  Heed DSW's advise....'jus sayin'.

Maybe you're correct. However, there is the fan boy fanaticism that we see with such things. Like xbox vs playstation. To an xbox guy a playstation is junk. I see this phenomenon in just about everything. However, those folks over at the welding forums might just be right, I don't know.

I will say one thing, I use a junky Harbor freight welder. I get by. I would gladly take something better but I get by. I'm just glad to have a mig welder

I'll say this too. The value of that longevity is not much different than a Lincoln. You are getting about 20 more amps and a whole lot more duty cycle, but the price is about the same as a Lincoln. Buy a Lincoln, at least you know you are getting a good welder. 20 more amps isn't really much, and a 60% duty cycle isn't really needed anyway. It really comes down to the skill of the person whos operating the welder anyway, Buy the Lincoln, I'm sure you wont be disappointed. I know Millers are recommended too, but I have no idea about their cost.

Cool. I wonder if its shop built.

On ‎1‎/‎25‎/‎2016 at 8:43 PM, Ernie42141 said:

Post vice is done!!!  Not bad for less than $20.

 

 

Nice. I like it.

That's a nice  vise. I would gladly use one like that.

I love your vise. I had a similar idea only I was going to make a leg vise with a screw. I built my anvil using forklift tines and a vise seemed like a good idea too. I also have some 2" bar stock that I'm considering for a vise as well, instead of the Forklift tines. I have the bar stock but not the tines

That vise of yours also gave me another idea. It might make a good mini forging press frame as well.

I built my anvil using forklift tines. I welded it up using 5/32 7018 rod @ 200 amps. I even made a horn and welded it on.

DSW, Longevity welders are an American owned and operated company. They are based in California. They do use Chinese factories but also have American owned ones as well. They claim to use the best factories in China. Lincoln welders do the same  thing. Lincoln uses Chinese factories as well. Hardly anything is 100% USA made anymore. . The welding supply store where I get my wire and gas from said that longevity is a good welder. They sell mostly Lincoln welders though.