Xim Posted March 15, 2009 Share Posted March 15, 2009 well its a nice day my brother and i have carried the forge and makeshift anvil outside and are about to light it up. the fuel we used was some really cheap barbecue charcoal. set light to it... and after 30 seconds or so we turned on the fan, which produced a firework display and then quickly turn into a roaring flame. once everything had caught light properly it was actually looking very nice. one thing we found very quickly was the fact of how fast the fuel was being burned off we went through an entire sack of bbq charcoal in a relatively short space of time. do you guys stop blowing when u take the work off the hammer or ?? and what other sources of longer lasting fuel is available in UK ? any way found some scrap piece of metal and decided to just experiment. one thing is definatley clear , is that we really need a proper pair of tongs to remove the work . i think a project is about to develop..... so just for a laugh i tried to make my 1st steak knife..... i know i know u want to learn my blade-smithing technique so u can produce this fine Damascus katana also ....?? the point is this is gonna get terribly addictive i can tell. anyway more to come soon Xim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TASMITH Posted March 15, 2009 Share Posted March 15, 2009 First off, Welcome to the site! Well you have learned some things right off the bat! I think almost everyone shuts down the air on their forge when they pull the steel (powered air supply) and of course if you are using a hand crank or bellows you cant be working them and forging too. Charcoal is good fuel but as you have already discovered it goes quick. Good quality blacksmithing coal lasts much longer if you have a good source nearby. Check out the "coal suppliers thread on this forum to see if there is a supplier in your area. By the way, if that is also your very first attempt at forging you have done a right fine job. Both the forging and the twist. read the section on metal working listed on the right hand column of the home page. Good place to start and LOTS of info on this site. Research the site and post any and all questions you may have. We are more than willing to help! Terry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dablacksmith Posted March 15, 2009 Share Posted March 15, 2009 looking good !! you might want to setup a air gate of some kind to regulate the air... you might be getting a tad too much air ... that will cause you to go thru the fuel but it will get stuff hot quick! and yes this stuff is terabley addicting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbob Posted March 15, 2009 Share Posted March 15, 2009 you've seen the fire and felt the heat and glimpsed the magic your on your way to out addiction...welcome aboard! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
781 Posted March 15, 2009 Share Posted March 15, 2009 Charcoal does burn up fast I add a couple of handfulls almost every heat or sooner. I liive in a rural area and make you own carcoal out of 2" X 4", nont sure what that is in metric, scrap construction lumber. Pine oak maple it doesnt matter to me. I use a 55 gal barrel with a resealable top. Cut 4 2 inch holes in the sides mear the bottom Make steel plugs to fit these holes. Stack the barrel full oof lumber with about 1' sticking out. Light the wood After the wood has burned for at least an hour and is in the state that when you grab it with tongs it breaks and is no longer solid but burning coals. plug the holes and cover the top so it doesnt get air. The fire will go out leaving you about 40% carcoal of the volume of wood you started out with If I use wood with nails (iron wood HA HA) after it is charcoal I use a large magnet to remove the nails. Otherwise you will have nails burning up in the fire giving off sparks. These hot nails will also try to weld to you work. There is a different way to make charcoal were the smoke is captured and sent to the fire to burn up but it looked like too much hastle to make to me. I have an unlimited supply of scrap construction lumber so do it that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Aspery Posted March 15, 2009 Share Posted March 15, 2009 Your local coal merchant should be able to supply you with blacksmith coke. It's generally the size of the top portion of your thumb. Somewhat flame proof to start, but it will last longer than charcoal - attracting less attention from your neighbours. Take a look at the British Artist Blacksmith Association (BABA) web site. There are quite a few educational opportunities for you in the S/W UK. Where abouts are you located? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted March 15, 2009 Share Posted March 15, 2009 Hi Xim, and welcome, If you are in Devon, you can get forge coke from Jeffreys at Bovey Tracey, or Symonds and Sons at Challaborough Farm, Bow, I understand Mendip Coal no longer stock forging coke. Or contact a local smith and see if they will let you know their supplier, we occasionally supply coke to our members on Blacksmiths Guild Home if they are stuck for some. Good luck with your new adventure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fe-Wood Posted March 15, 2009 Share Posted March 15, 2009 Welcome Xim! Looks like the fire bug got you! Have fun!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Budd Posted March 15, 2009 Share Posted March 15, 2009 John beat me to it with the local coke dealers If you decide to go for the charcoal, hte price will rack up quickly. I use it when demonstrating and teaching groups (using Iron Age and Roman forges with bellows) so I buy charcoal in bulk (well, a few hundred kilos at a time). when I'm demonstrating I reckon on 25-30kg for a full day. The guy I buy my charcoal from is running a course for me in a couple of months, teaching people how to make it themselves. I wasted a lot of time and firewood trying to make it in the past - it is certainly an art! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 Charcoal needs very little air for forging; definitely tone it way down. Also see if you can get a foot switch for the blower so it only runs when you are stepping on the switch---this will cut way back on fuel use and burnt up steel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Thompson Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 Blacksmithing coke in the UK also goes under the names 'breeze' and 'Sunbrite Beans'. Any coal merchant worth his salt should know of it. It has recently become scarily expensive ( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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