blackleafforge Posted December 23, 2013 Share Posted December 23, 2013 Im in the process of getting the parts together to build my own forge having only used other peoples up till now. From the research i have done the best types of blowers for hard long term use seem to be the metal cased Alacosa type (uk). Glendale and Vaughns have expensive versions for sale: http://anvils.co.uk/products/view/434?cat=10 http://www.glendaleforge.co.uk/Glendale_Forge/Spares.html Am i correct in thinking this is the best set up for a single profession blacksmith? They seem to strongly resemble older version such as one I'm watching on eBay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/forge-blower-/121237665018?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1c3a53f4fa Is there a modern quieter more efficient version? I have heard talk of industrial side channel blowers? or is the older type still the way to go? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Have a look at Axminster Power Tools £136.50 item AWDE5002 extractor fan, are a good replacement for the older type of fan you are illustrating, many of our members use them, also a bouncy castle fan is suitable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the iron dwarf Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 for cheap I use a bouncy castle blower, for better I would use a side channel, I make bottom blast and use a higher pressure than you probably would for back blast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basher Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 second hand blowers on ebay all the time for 20 to 40 quid. I have picked up a couple of bouncy castle blowers for a tenner. side channel blowers are amazing quiet and supremely powerful , if you can find one cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackleafforge Posted December 24, 2013 Author Share Posted December 24, 2013 I like the idea of a quieter side channel fan as my forge will be in a residential area. The Axminster runs at 70 dB, how quiet are the side channel blowers and the old Alacosta fans? Can they all be fitted with variable speed controls, or do you just control airflow with a simple sliding valve? How much are the side channel blowers? Iron dwarf, do you sell fans separately or just as components in finished forges? Do you have a website? The older fans look a lot easier to service and maintain, is this the case? Im sorry for asking so many questions :) I really appreciate the feedback and specialist information i get from this site, if i meet any of you at a fair or the blacksmith festival i will buy you a drink. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joel OF Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 I've just upgraded from an Alcosa F20 hand cranked blower to a 380W bouncy castle blower which I got for £40 inc P&P on eBay. I knocked up a quick sliding gate which does the trick but I have also bought a 1000W dimmer switch (which was about £20 I think, I haven't fitted yet) but I know will drastically reduce the noise. I have no idea what dB of noise the bouncy castle blower creates but I don't find it O.T.T without the dimmer switch. This thread will definitely be worth a read: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 I like the idea of a quieter side channel fan as my forge will be in a residential area. The Axminster runs at 70 dB, how quiet are the side channel blowers and the old Alacosta fans? Can they all be fitted with variable speed controls, or do you just control airflow with a simple sliding valve? How much are the side channel blowers? Iron dwarf, do you sell fans separately or just as components in finished forges? Do you have a website? The older fans look a lot easier to service and maintain, is this the case? Im sorry for asking so many questions :) I really appreciate the feedback and specialist information i get from this site, if i meet any of you at a fair or the blacksmith festival i will buy you a drink. The old Alcosa fans can be noisy, and usually noisier than the Axminster fan. All motors with brushes in can be fitted with electric speed reducers relatively simply. Slide valves give an instant and repeatable setting as opposed to the electric control. The older fans are OK until the windings deteriorate, they can then be as expensive as a new one to have them rewound (depends on company servicing them), brushes and bearings are the only other bits to worry about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the iron dwarf Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Hi blackleaf, like the snail! blowers are collect only as they are hard to package so they dont get damaged and im at NN14 1QF so a long way from you, I do sometimes go in your general direction to the area around stonehenge for an event or two, would sell blowers seperatly and have bouncy castle ones at £30 normally and have 1 new side channel at £100. on my forges airflow is controlled by the ball valve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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