Frosty Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 Being volcanic islands Japan has never had a reliable source of coal and they're very much into "traditional" method. Bamboo grows frighteningly fast and makes fine charcoal. Their forges are typically long deep and narrow.Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 Are we talkin side draft where the exhaust goes out the side, or side blast where the air comes in from the side? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 side blast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 I just wanted to be sure after seeing side draft mentioned a few times and figured it was a typo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 Not only bamboo, but like europe they have a tradition of harvesting small woods and making charcoal, like many things its almost an artform. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Everything Mac Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 (edited) Charcoal forges are a pleasure to use if you do it right. It burns much quicker than coke/ coal but it is on the whole a much more pleasant fuel to use. EvBob - check out making your own charcoal, if you are able to do so it will be better quality than store bought stuff which is often made from African hardwoods and generally not "good" charcoal. I made my own from pallets for a while which was great but there is a lot of smoke produced when you make the charcoal (not very neighbour friendly) As has been pointed out you need very little air flow for a charcoal forge. Too much air and you will burn up a lot of fuel. The 8" deep fire thing is a myth though. Looking forward to seeing pics of your forge. Andy Edited July 19, 2015 by Everything Mac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 The deep fire is for trying to get bottom blast forges with too much air to work with charcoal. I have one with a peice of 1/2 pipe and a duble action bed pump that works well with the fire ball 3 above the tuyeer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evbob Posted July 20, 2015 Author Share Posted July 20, 2015 Wow I'm still learning so much from this post, this for is great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wpearson Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 ifi has a couple of retort designs that are pretty much smokeless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 As well as what the gunpowder guys are doing, high quality willow charcoal anyone? Seen one that was a two barel stove kit with a 30g drum in sertee in the top drum to make an oven, with the volitiles plumed back to the fire box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clif Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 Evobob,I use lump wood charcoal for my medieval re-enactments, I burn through a bag the size you showed in a weekend (about 8+ hours of forge work). My first guess would be your putting too much air to your fire, second would be that you're getting a cross breeze that is burning up your charcoal while your working your metal. My first forge was about the size you state your is. I then used fire brick to create an area about 10 inches in diameter in the center ( mine was a flat plate with 1 inch sides). I use a small 2 gallon bucket and will load with about half of it, then work for 1 1/2 to 2 hours without topping up more that a couple of handfuls. the times I burn through more is when I get a med to strong cross wind and my charcoal is burning while I am working at the anvil. I've never used the Royal Oak brand of charcoal. but I have found that the supermarket lump wood is not good quality (mostly mangrove wood) I have found that good local hardwood charcoal is the best. See if you can find mesquite or oak charcoal. Good luck and let us know how you get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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