Archie Zietman Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 Hello, I have have been thinking about using corn for a fuel, and I have a few questions: How much smoke does corn produce when you put it on the fire green? Does it make a lot of sparks? Is it clinkerous? How fast does it burn (what are the dimensions of your firepot and about how much corn do you go through in an hour of forging)? And would "cracked corn" (dried kernels cracked in half) work in a forge, or would they burn too quickly? sorry for this hail of questions, but I am very interested in alternate solid fuels. Merry Being, Happy Forging, Stay cool and hydrated, Thanks again, Archie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 Like any fuel, it smokes on start up, but then catches fire and burns producing much less smoke. Photos by Irnsrgn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nolano Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 Wait, Corn as a fuel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacksmith Jim Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 Just think of it! While you were forging you could have all the popcorn you could eat!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Pook Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 lol... thats what i was thinking as i read and saw the pictures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Murch Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 I tried corn a couple times in my forge. It gives off quite large flames which makes it nearly impossible to see into the fire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark hendricks Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 You can form it into a "roof" and all of the combustion will be in a cave like fire and you can see your work just as easily as a gas forge. I burn it in combination with pine scraps. Can't make charcoal with the wild fire potential arround here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie Zietman Posted August 1, 2006 Author Share Posted August 1, 2006 How does one form the cave? Thanks, Archie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark hendricks Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 I use a long narrow forge with a side draft. When I want a cave, i use some pine to make "rafters then add the corn on top of that and let it cook a while. The corn fuses and forms thr cave roof. I'll add corn on top and wood into the mouth of the beast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie Zietman Posted August 2, 2006 Author Share Posted August 2, 2006 I just tried some old dry rice from the back of the food cupboard, and it works really nicely, it smokes a lot, but when the smoke catches, it cokes really quickly and sticks together like coal coke, and burns darn hot! I definately want to try corn, and chicken feed too, now I think about it. Thanks for the cave info! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillbillysmith Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 Corn would be an excellent idea. I was going to try it, but never got around to it. It will work, but it needs to be dry. It is the same principal as a corn-burner for your house, and why people go crazy when there is the smallest spark or flame near the corn-cribbs at the grain elevator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 This thread is interesting. It seems that there are always questions about where to get coal. But now we have other potential fuel sources. What about wood pellets? Up here in the Northeast, lots of people heat their homes with wood pellets and some with corn. So it's not hard at all to get bags of that stuff fairly cheaply. But are they cheaper than coal or charcoal in $$ per hour of forging? Also, I would guess that corn and maybe pellets would need a deep fire like charcoal. Does that make sense? The downside to corn is storage. Supposedly it can attract rats if not stored tightly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie Zietman Posted August 2, 2006 Author Share Posted August 2, 2006 I can get 50 pound acks of corn for about 15 bucks from Agway (agricultural and gardening store where I get feed for my chickens) and it comes stored in heavy paper bags, when I used to feed them on corn and feed I just bunged the sacks in the basement, closed the door and was fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacksmith Jim Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 ... and why people go crazy when there is the smallest spark or flame near the corn-cribbs at the grain elevator. I've also heard some people talk about the explosive properties of a lot of small particulates floating in the air. That might be part of the grain elevator threats as well... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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