rhornback Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 So I built this forge from a break drum and pan, then concrete the drum to make that nice slope and keep coal from hiding in the sides of the drum. I am using an air mattress pump for my blower, and from what I’ve seen produces a good amount of pressure when compared to a hand crank blower (insert brand). The problem I’m having is the heat wants to stay right in the middle and doesn’t spread out evenly like I feel it should. Any suggestions, or cause for this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Coke Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 Greetings R, Sounds to me like an air volume problem.. From you pictures your forge should work fine with the right amount of coal on top.. Air mattress blowers have pressure but insufficient volume. Good luck Forge on and make beautiful things Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McPherson Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 Looks like you are using wood charcoal, which needs a deeper firepot and gentler air supply than coal or coke. Put a few bricks around it as a corral and see if that helps. A working fire is often 6 or more inches deep in the center, a fuel starved fire will keep you from getting any work done. Also, break up the chunks to road gravel size, so there is less air space between fuel. This works with coal as well, where the best size for small forges is called "nut coal", because it is the size of mixed nuts in the shell. Cleaning out the ash frequently helps as well. Do you have a "T" in the air supply with an ash dump in the bottom? If so, stop the air and push the fire to the center with tongs or other tool. Ash and very small coals will fall thru, leaving you with only fuel in the firepot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhornback Posted November 24, 2013 Author Share Posted November 24, 2013 Thanks Jim for the encouragement as well as the advice. Very well john the ashes in the pic is from charcoal. I typically use coal, but was out at the time I took this photo. Does the 6 in rule apply for coal as well? I got some fresh coal this afternoon and it seemed to be working a bit better than before, must have been a weird batch or something. All in all thank you for the advice. And good eye.. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhornback Posted November 24, 2013 Author Share Posted November 24, 2013 and yes to the T in the intake, the ash falls freely into my one of a kind fitted cambles tomato soup can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockstar.esq Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 Jim's comment applied to me - volume not speed is critical for coke forges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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