Steven Rudolphi Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 First time posting, but I've come to rely on this site while I am working on my first forge. I've been having a problem with my forge though. I'm using cowboy lump charcoal as fuel but I just can't seem to get it hot enough. I'm pretty sure it's my air flow. I'm going as old school as possible but I'm in need of a bellows, or hand blower, any suggestions on where I should get one, or how to make one? I'm trying to stay under $50 for the bellows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 try here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 Where are you located? Makes a difference in shipping and resource information. Fuel does not make a fire hot, air makes the fire hot. But you must have enough fuel in order to burn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 What are you using as an air source now and what type of forge did you build? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Rudolphi Posted April 17, 2018 Author Share Posted April 17, 2018 5 minutes ago, Irondragon Forge & Clay said: What are you using as an air source now and what type of forge did you build? I built a brick forge and I tried using a bike pump as a bellows just to see if it would work 8 minutes ago, Glenn said: Where are you located? I'm located in Colorado Springs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 Have you read the Bellows, Blowers section on the site? Was it helpful? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latticino Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 14 hours ago, Steven Rudolphi said: I tried using a bike pump as a bellows A bike pump is typically very low volume of air at a high pressure. For a charcoal forge you don't need high pressure, and you need a much better flowrate. I believe that some folks use larger hairdryers, blowers from "bouncy castles" or similar inflatables, or double action manual air mattress inflators. There are folks with a lot more experience than I have with solid fuel forges who can help more I'm sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 A charcoal forge needs very little air as compared to a coal forge, a large hairdryer will blow the fuel out of the forge, a bouncy blower would very much excessive. An airgate is mandatory with either one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 $10 woks really well with a 3/4” schedule 40 pipe tuyere (the hose end wedges right in to the pipe) walls, double acting box bellows... I have two forges outfitted with just such a set up. They both handle 1” stock well. An old drawer, a piece of pipe, bed inflator and a coffee table. Just ad dirt and you have a forge. Not, bottom blast forges such as brake drum/rotor forges are fuel hungry beasts with charcoal, small side blasts can be configured for mor effencey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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