New axe maker Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 Managed to get a free coal forge and 15 gal of non smithing coal. It burns and heats metal just a pain to get started. And a free electric blower. Still needs an air gate but it works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 Sounds like anthracite coal. bituminous would be easier to work with but you can forge with what you have. From what I can see it looks like a table would be helpful to hold extra fuel to be raked in as needed. blower looks like an old 24 volt I have, Or my Dayton 110V. You could make a paddle cover for the air inlet out of sheet metal to adjust the amount of air going in. The one shown on my blower in the pic slides over the opening to restrict the flow as needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New axe maker Posted April 25, 2017 Author Share Posted April 25, 2017 I like that idea for the paddle. But I need connect to the pipe first. I have to hold it onto the pipe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 many easy ways to do that as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoName Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 New, Blacksmithing is a long journey. What I see looking at you picture is, the gas can, first I would move that. The journey should not end with a bang. Looks like the forge could be a little unstable. Free is good. DW, Never heard it called a paddle, all ways though it was an airgate. From now on its a paddle. I am running a large fan, took awhile to dial in. Actually have an damper on an all most open 3" hvac T. In addition to my paddle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New axe maker Posted April 25, 2017 Author Share Posted April 25, 2017 Haha yea I realized the can was there. After I shut the forge off. That could've been bad. The forge seems pretty stable though. I use propane mainly but I've always wanted to play with coal. Just have to tweak with this forge a bit. Propane is easier but coal is more fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PapaDooks Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 if the "nozzle" of the blower fits inside the pipe can always go the real easy method of hole in each side with a screw in them and slowly do them up till they pinch outside of the nozzle. low tech and cheap but does the job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New axe maker Posted April 25, 2017 Author Share Posted April 25, 2017 It's the same size as the pipe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 28 minutes ago, New axe maker said: It's the same size as the pipe. A scrap of sheet metal cut a couple inches wide long enough to wrap around is plenty to secure it. It might look a little redneck or trashy to some but it'll work. One thing I did was I found a shop bac hose that fit in the pipe and on the "blower" (hairdryer at the time) and used it to keep the controls easily accessible. I had to let out some air so I cut a couple slits in the hose to let some out. I was burning anthracite at that time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New axe maker Posted April 25, 2017 Author Share Posted April 25, 2017 I was thinking flexible aluminum dryer vent hose. If I can find it small enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 NoName, I don't know why I called it a paddle. I believe you are correct with "air gate". Mine is just paddle shaped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New axe maker Posted April 25, 2017 Author Share Posted April 25, 2017 Any tips on getting anthracite coal to light easier I fought it for about 45min before it would ignite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 1 hour ago, New axe maker said: I was thinking flexible aluminum dryer vent hose. If I can find it small enough. Doubt you will find dryer hose that small. Just cut up a coffee can, wrap it around overlapping it and secure with radiator hose clamps, call it good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 I just used a wad of newspaper with kindling once the kindling had coals it usually lit the anthracite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New axe maker Posted April 25, 2017 Author Share Posted April 25, 2017 I'll have to try that. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 2 minutes ago, New axe maker said: Any tips on getting anthracite coal to light easier I fought it for about 45min before it would ignite. Start a small kindling fire first with the blower on low get that going then add the coal over top slowly building up the air blast. That's what I did with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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