new guy Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 i need a blower for my forge. i can get it hot enough for general metal work (me with a fan) but i am sure i cannot forge weld and it heats real slow. if anyone helps that'd be really nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tech413 Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 You could always use a hair drier, that what I am currently using. It works well and has warranty for when it burns out. $10 at Walmart. Adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob JS Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Some ideas to consider, Vacuum cleaner- even if it doesn't have a blow setting. Put it in a box with a pipe leading from it. I have got the motor and fan from an old hover mower on stand by for future forges. You will have discoved that charcoal doesn't need much air - Im running my small diy forge off my big old belt driven compressor, I can get yellow hot, but you will need it much hotter for forge welding. Also could get a blower form a scrap car place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Used blow drier at a 2nd hand shop a couple bucks max. Have you Dad log in and ask, we'll give him a list so you can actually get to doing something. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
48willys Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 You could make some box bellows,if you can do basic wood working it wouldn't be hard at all.A past discussion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new guy Posted April 6, 2009 Author Share Posted April 6, 2009 ok the hair dryer may not be good. and can i use a radiator fan and hand crank it? oh and chances are it is jr logged in because my dad just surfs the forums and does not really post too often. new guy JR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbob Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 do a search for blowers (got to top line click on search put in blowers) ...here is a link to one made from bicycle parts..http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f11/hand-crank-forge-gearset-10684/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new guy Posted April 6, 2009 Author Share Posted April 6, 2009 ok im thinking the fan assembly off an old leaf blower will work, eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbob Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 ok im thinking the fan assembly off an old leaf blower will work, eh? if its plastic it might melt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new guy Posted April 7, 2009 Author Share Posted April 7, 2009 yeah your right ill have to get a metal leaf blower fan. for now im using a metal snow shovel! i can get my forge to heat a rr spike to 1650 degrees (i guessed based on a color chart) in about 10 minutes from room temp! new guy, jr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbob Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 keep in mind that you don't want the fan blades like a fan that you would put in your room but twisted more in line kind of like and old water wheel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new guy Posted April 7, 2009 Author Share Posted April 7, 2009 that is exactly why i am looking for a premade fan assembly, like a radiator fan or leaf blower fan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finnr Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 an old furnace blower from any HVAC company. Finnr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new guy Posted April 7, 2009 Author Share Posted April 7, 2009 ok but, Finnr, can i rig it up to be hand cranked? i don't think my mother in law wants an extension cord crossing the lawn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt87 Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 (edited) To match the speed from an electric motor without killing yourself you will need a step-up system -- gears and/or pulleys. The exact ratios and speeds will depend on what you have on hand and what your needs are. I have heard about old push-bikes being used to good effect and that makes a lot of sense -- a pre-made adjustable step-up chain-driven gearing designed for long use in harsh conditions. 12VDC blowers (e.g. from a car) can be run from a battery. Economically this should be rechargeable. If you're burning anthracite coal or metallurgical coke think very carefully about hand-crank; these fuels tend to need a constant blast or will go out. Why not just put the extension cord away when you're not smithing? Surely your MIL won't mind an extension cord when she's okay with burning coal and hammering on steel? Edited April 7, 2009 by matt87 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new guy Posted April 7, 2009 Author Share Posted April 7, 2009 my forge is making things for her, IE a fence and other bits for the house. she thinks that if i can heat steel to hammer it is good enough. also, i just think a crank would be better because i am burnig wood charcoal made on site in the forge. so the hand crank would work, i think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 (edited) here's a link to another thread that was just on here about this very subject.... http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f7/hand-crank-blower-10792/ and another http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f11/hand-crank-forge-gearset-10684/index2.html Edited April 7, 2009 by Dodge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new guy Posted April 7, 2009 Author Share Posted April 7, 2009 the first link is precisley what i want to make! that looks perfect for me. i think an old fan assembley off a leafblwer bolt on a handle (made by me of course ) and attached to a pipe driven into the ground. that sound like a good poratable idea? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt87 Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 the first link is precisley what i want to make! that looks perfect for me. i think an old fan assembley off a leafblwer bolt on a handle (made by me of course ) and attached to a pipe driven into the ground. that sound like a good poratable idea? Unless you can turn a handle at 3,000 RPM (that's 5 times a second) you'll need to add a gearing or pulley system. Your mother-in-law's OK with a hole in her lawn but won't let you trail an extension cable across it for a few hours? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new guy Posted April 8, 2009 Author Share Posted April 8, 2009 she sees my area as beyond repair and does not want it to spread. as long as my forge only effects the area around my forge she does not care. her flowers are a different story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Lumpkins Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 The first blower I had was a Squirrel gage, "heater Motor" out of a 64 chevy truck. I would hook at battery up and it worked fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new guy Posted April 8, 2009 Author Share Posted April 8, 2009 that may just work for me. i still think hand crank is bes though, just me and it will be easier to fix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new guy Posted April 8, 2009 Author Share Posted April 8, 2009 that may work but will i be able to fix a battery blower with hand tools? i don't feel safe if i broke it and then fixed it. i only have basic knowledge of electriity. but i have a good skill at fixing things. new guy jr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 (edited) Good point, Tom. If an auto-type heater blower breaks you don't fix it, you go to the junkyard / auto parts store and buy another / new one. Automotive blowers run a looooong time. They got most of the bugs worked out of them by now If the battery goes dead; recharge it ;) Edited April 8, 2009 by Dodge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbob Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 It sounds like the first things you need to make should be for her flower garden ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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