EnderEye767 Posted August 8, 2018 Share Posted August 8, 2018 How do I start a coal forge with a small electric blower? I have tried multiple times and went on multiple sources and followed every thing i was told to do, i used newspaper and lit it from the bottom. Should i use wood instead? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted August 8, 2018 Share Posted August 8, 2018 Some people use a crumpled wad of paper with no problem; can you tell us what kind of coal you are trying to light? Anthracite is NOT going to light with paper! Are you adding too much air too soon? I generally make a small wood fire and add more air and more coal as it catches well; but then I am using bituminous coal rated for blacksmithing. (coal can be very different within a classification; so not all bituminous coal is good for smithing!) If you are having a lot of problems still, light a real chunk charcoal fire and blow on that gently as you add coal around and over it. (NOT BRIQUETTES!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted August 8, 2018 Share Posted August 8, 2018 Build a fire a boy scout would be proud to call his own. Use sticks, kindling, small wood and get a good bed of coals. Add coal a small amount of coal at a time letting it catch fire. Add more in small amounts as needed. You want a bed of coal (hot embers) large enough to start the new coal on fire easily. Use just enough air to keep the fire HOT. Soon you should have a well established fire that can be used to heat metal. Many suggest a fire ball about the size of a melon with extra coal on top of that to be a good size forge fire. Fuel does not make the fire hot, air makes the fire hot. You can then regulate the size of the fire to the size of the metal being heated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnderEye767 Posted August 8, 2018 Author Share Posted August 8, 2018 the issue is i have a one speed blower Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted August 8, 2018 Share Posted August 8, 2018 read in thee blower section we have directions on how to reduce the air flow there, best way is to redirect part of the flow away form the fire pot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted August 8, 2018 Share Posted August 8, 2018 Opening the ash dump can help a lot. (The issue is not that you have a one speed blower; it's that you didn't figure out a way to meter the airflow to the fire---something MANDATORY for forging!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnderEye767 Posted August 8, 2018 Author Share Posted August 8, 2018 thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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