evbob Posted July 13, 2015 Author Share Posted July 13, 2015 Chico, Chino couple hours away. So ill try to bring in my fire circle, adding a little water to the edges and building it up under the metal. Ill also try slowing the air down too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 Water isn't much use with charcoal, but it can be a godsend with soft coal. I would also look into using wood scrap and waste. Cheaper than burning charcoal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 (edited) WATER ?? Why water ?? You need a tall small diameter fire, not a wet fire.Put a 6 inch circle of metal over you the area of your forge where the air enters. Or use bricks, mud or what ever is available to make a container for the charcoal. It may be 12-16 inches tall with a versicle slice down one side to allow you to put the metal into the fire.You can use wood as forge fuel. It has been done for hundreds or even thousands of years.You control the fire with air, NOT fuel. More fire add more air, less fire add less air. Play with the fire to get it to do what you want. Edited July 13, 2015 by Glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 If all else failes i'll help you temperaly convert your rivet forge to a side blast so you can get to forging with less flustration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evbob Posted July 13, 2015 Author Share Posted July 13, 2015 (edited) Thanks for the help, Glenn the water was just to put a little on the out side so it didn't burn all of it at once just what I wanted. Mr. Stevens I am interested in getting some coal and trying the cave method, as that might suit me alittle better and my forge. What do you think? Edited July 13, 2015 by evbob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redd1981 Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 Bob Im sorry I didnt see this post earlier. It seems I had the same problem the first day or two. The problem I have is too much airflow from a blow dryer even on low. My solution was to start my fire with a nice heaping load of dry charcoal to get everything up to heat. After the first forge full starts to get smaller I add pre wetted charcoal around the outside edge of the pile.as it it moved closer to the actual fire ball it seems to dry out before it actually makes it to the fire. I use a nursery pot with drainage hole in the bottom and pour a load in there and give it water until it starts to flow out of the bottom and stop. I do that 3-4 times before I add more to the OUTSIDE of the fuel pile.With that said you may want to try what the more experienced smiths suggest first.This is just what has worked for me until I buck up and rig something to restrict my airflow.BTW I think that 3-4 hours of continuous forging for a small bag of royal oak is about right. I like to pick up a small bag after work every day or so I have 4-5 bags stocked up by the weekend and doesnt seem as painful as buying in bulk even though you are actually getting a better price. YMMV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 Restrict your fire physically, a ring of fire brick is my choice but pile clay or whatever. Sure you CAN control the fire by wetting the charcoal you don't want burning but that's like dragging logs behind your car to keep it from going too fast.The solution in either case is the same, back off the throttle. Right now your forge pan is like putting a 650cfm Holly 4 barrel on a 67 VW Bug. It's charcoal, it WILL burn if exposed to air and fire. A small fire pot, bowl, duck's nest, etc. to physically keep the charcoal and fire separate works and once you've tried it . . . easily.Believe me, you could pile charcoal in your forge till it couldn't hold any more and with a bit of air from the blower get it all burning at once. Look at the coals in a camp fire and it doesn't have forced air.Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evbob Posted July 15, 2015 Author Share Posted July 15, 2015 First off I want to say thx to all who helped me! Second I want to say I try ed what you said, I took a pant can and cut it bringin my charcoal closer and I used way less air. When I did this I used one back for 9 hours of forging and made a cool little knife! There's even a little left over. Thanks for all you help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 It's our pleasure Bob, helping someone succeed makes us feel good. We're selfish that way. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 And why we get crabby when folks refuse to try our suggestions and just tell us they won't work. Lots of experience hanging round here... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 Yep, I learn somthing new everyday. Lots of good smithes here, most come with "Big" personalities as well, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 should that have been "lots of experience hanging over the belt around here"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 Well, i have the wiskers and the fine physique to fit in with the oldtimers, still got to pay a few more dues tho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 It's the eyes; your picture makes them look like you have stared a birch tree in the face---and ducked... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 Lol, building fence in the hotest summer on record will give you that look, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 Sorry that was a typo for birch ala Frosty and I was not allowed to edit itok we really wondered, I will repair it for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 Sorry that was a typo for birch ala Frosty and I was not allowed to edit itJust cause the R&T are right next to each other eh? It would be nice if we had a LITTLE longer to edit, sometimes I don't get a chance to read all the way through before time's up.At least I have a dent for an excuse.Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 And you can claim that your wife got you at a scratch and dent sale! (Although I know it was more like she kept you after the fender bender...) Lately I have tried a short post then edit and had it not allow it within 30 seconds of posting the first part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 But it was good for a laugh, good ol' laugh till the tears come. Thanks Thomas, I needed that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 I'm not so much a touch typist as a lucha libre typist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 Oh, good lord if that isnt a visual, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 with my face, a mask can help---my wife already demands I keep it bearded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 There is a film of a Japanese Sword Master around using what appears to be charcoal forging a blade using a side draft forge of very narrow dimensions. I think there is some discussion of charcoal technique in the threads on construction of the Japanese style bellows.My own experiment with charcoal seemed to give better results with a side draft directed into a shallow bowl with hard fire brick on either side to add depth. By the way the late great artist smith Ivan Bailey, in a demonstration that I attended, said that his own forge was a side draft coke forge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 Charcoal is the traditional fuel used for forging Japanese blades; Besides the Far East, smiths also tend to use side draft forges in the UK more than we do in the USA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.