stovestoker Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 I was wondering if it was OK to hook my squirrel cage blower directly to the ducks foot as I have it mocked up in the pic. I wasn't sure if maybe there would be to much heat to hook the blower up this way. Or should I put in about a foot of duct work in between them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigred1o1 Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 if this was mine i would give it some more distance as you never know when you will have some real hot pieces of coal or coke down in there and no reason to burn up your fan as well you do not have a very deep ash catch there so keeping clinkers and things from ending up in the fan blades will be a plus so you might consider an air gate that you can push closed and keep the fan clean and clinker free while cleaning out the fire pot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedefiddle Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 Good Morning, That would be a good idea if you have unlimited supply of blowers. The poor motor is too close to the heat source. I would use a piece of clothes dryer pipe with an adjuster flap inbetween. Those blowers work best without a reostat, adjust the amount of air with a gate valve or flap. just my $.02 Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 I'd put some distance between them. Can't hurt might help. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 Get a piece of expandable metal close dryer vent pipe. Attach one end to the forge. Pull and expand the pipe so it will reach the blower (on the ground, a table, a support, etc.). DO NOT attach the end of the pipe to the blower but aim the blower toward or away from the end of the pipe for more or less air. If you want to firmly attach the blower to the pipe, you will need some way to vent or restrict the excess air. Think air gate of some nature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Coke Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 Greetings Stovestoker, Won't work... You will need about 2 foot of tube and an air gate.. I have a similar set up with a bigger blower and an on and off switch with a rheostat to boot.. You will find out that a continuous air supply limits your fire control.. That is a sizable fire pot and will consume a bunch of coal.. I hope this helps. Forge on and make beautiful things Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stovestoker Posted June 18, 2014 Author Share Posted June 18, 2014 I have a rheostat set up from a cheap dimmer switch. It works OK. I think it's to fragile so I am going to locate a good one. suggestions welcome. As far as an air gate goes. I need an air gate if the fan is constantly blowing high, does this apply with a rheostat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 The motor on your blower has it's own air vents for cooling so you can control the blower output by making a gate to close the blower intake. Just a simple round piece of sheet metal with a little tab you can grab and a hinge. One of the bolts holding the blower case together works perfectly for the gate hinge. Interrupting the air flow won't overload the motor by reducing how much air it has to push. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stovestoker Posted June 23, 2014 Author Share Posted June 23, 2014 I was looking at centaur forges air gate. Can anyone tell me how you plumb it in? It doesn't give detail on the diameter of the opening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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