FrancoisVDH

So just an update from my side. The side blast has been working well even with my screwed up fabricating. Air hole came in at roughly 16-20mm, was supposed to be 1 inch but after breaking the drill bit I left it as is. Depth of the fire pot is about 3 inches above the air inlet, and just shy of two inches below the air inlet. Air source is a hair dryer, but tuned up or down with a ball valve and overflow dumped up the chimney. So far I struggle to get to a neutral flame unless I go almost full bore on the air and mound up the coal quite high. Had a similar issue when the forge was bottom blast for those wondering. What I can say is that my anthracite does tend to coke up a bit and becomes sticky when running on very high air, and with the side blast I can "stir" the whole fire pot and the clinker pools easier at the bottom. Side note - I have to stir my anthracite fire every half hour or so otherwise it forms a dense "cake" at the bottom that eventually blocks off the airflow. No idea why this happens, but it is easier to break up on the side blast configuration for me.

Thank you! I spent last night modifying my bottom blast to a side blast, and also upgraded my air supply by having a proper valve. Funny enough I realized most of my issues previously over the last 3 years were due to poor air control. I have forged about 2 hours last night and another 3 tonight local time and so far I am extremely happy with the side blast. Have found very little clinker compared to previously forging with a bottom blast. I forge only with anthracite as that is all that is available. I am curious how the plate will hold up in my forge over the next year or so, planning to forge most nights as far as possible and will see what the damage is over time.

Well, I spent the night modifying my bottom blast to a side blast, also changed my air control to pipe fittings with a valve etc. Firstly, I love the side draft even without a water cooled tuyere. Works really well for the little time I spent forging tonight. With the better air control I could forge significantly longer using a lot less coal than before. Thank you to everyone sharing their knowledge and experience, have been reading the forums for the past 3 years and it has been a tremendous help.

Yes, did read both those articles. Especially the Anthracite one. Only coal available and because it doesn't smoke as much it works well for me.

Charles R. Stevens- how has your fire pot been holding up? I am thinking of a similar design, but I only have anthracite available and a hairdryer as an air source. In your opinion would half inch mild steel last in the shape that you welded up your fire pot?

I am thinking of modifying my welded fire pot to a side blast, but was wondering how the thicker steel plate has been lasting? My fire pot is welded from half inch mild steel, and even with two years as a bottom blast forge it shows zero signs of distortion, but with a side blast that might not be the case, or am I worrying for nothing? Don't want to cut up my fire pot and then find out I messed up.