arftist Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 On December 8, 2016 at 6:58 PM, Frosty said: How often do you need to cool stock in winter? Pretty often. I use water to cool the isolate exactly where I want a bend. Either water or heating with a torch instead of a forge which I find slow and tiresome in general. I guess we all work differently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMoore Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Just put a heater in my tank. It is one with a wire shield to protect the container. As soon as it get light, I'll post the make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTBlades Posted January 14, 2017 Share Posted January 14, 2017 This might be an odd question but here goes. With winter being here and temps now well below freezing, my cooling bucket for my tools has frozen solid in my shop as I only use a gas space heater when actually out in the shop. When I used my coal forge I didn't do any forging in the winter but now that I built a gasser I can work in the shop (as long as it's not 0). Do you guys have any suggestions to help the freezing or am I simply going to have to empty when done and fill it when I go out to forge? I thought about using some anti-freeze mixed in the water however I think it may not be safe. Thanks in advance for any suggestions! Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beech Posted January 14, 2017 Share Posted January 14, 2017 Well... Mod note: Link removed due to the threads relocation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted January 14, 2017 Share Posted January 14, 2017 On January 14, 2017 at 4:57 PM, CTBlades said: With winter being here and temps now well below freezing, my cooling bucket for my tools has frozen solid in my shop as I only use a gas space heater when actually out in the shop. If your slack tub is freezing you're not slacking enough Ray. Us cold country folk went through a long thread on the subject a while ago but thanks for the opportunity to tweak you. I appreciate it. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTBlades Posted January 14, 2017 Share Posted January 14, 2017 Actually I think you have it backwards Frosty, I'm slacking way to much and not using my tank or hot tooling enough lol. Thank you for the link beech, I wasn't sure where to look in the forums. If I was working full time with the forge I am sure I'd go with the heater but it seems I'll just empty and fill when I do use the forge for now. Thank you gents! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted January 14, 2017 Share Posted January 14, 2017 If you're not slacking your iron why does it matter if the tub freezes? Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTBlades Posted January 14, 2017 Share Posted January 14, 2017 I was referring to me slacking, being a slacker, not working enough, goofing around.....lol....not slacking my iron. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted January 14, 2017 Share Posted January 14, 2017 Must I explain E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G Ray? Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted January 14, 2017 Share Posted January 14, 2017 Speaking from recent personal experience, if your slack tub freezes and cracks, put it somewhere that the meltwater won't go everywhere when it thaws. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTBlades Posted January 14, 2017 Share Posted January 14, 2017 On January 14, 2017 at 6:15 PM, Frosty said: Must I explain E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G Ray? Uh ohhhhh! lol JHCC no way, sorry to hear that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 Generally when I need to use water 1 gallon and a dipper does me fine and it's easy to bring and dump it per forging session; of course today was short sleeve weather earlier so freezing was not much of a concern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Hinsman Posted September 30, 2019 Share Posted September 30, 2019 Why not use a small propeller under the water in a wire cage? It would keep the water moving so it doesn't freeze. Or maybe just one of those chemistry stir stick thingys would work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yves Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 Automobile block heater installed in a steel barrel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kozzy Posted December 1, 2019 Share Posted December 1, 2019 There are good stock tank heaters for this. The right one sits on the bottom, never gets so hot that it would melt even a plastic tank, and has an internal thermostat so doesn't even turn on unless freezing temperatures are met. IIRC, my stock tank heaters ran about 24 bucks USD. In a roughly 20 gallon tank, there is no freeze at all until it's been below zero F for a few days and then only minimal top freezing around the edges. Wattage is remarkably low to accomplish this so it doesn't make you go broke on electric bills. Image is the 500 watt version which is for a much bigger tank and is listed at $ 33 USD. IIRC, mine are 250 watts. For smaller tanks...say about a 5 gallon bucket size, they make a water heater for chickens--it's a galvanized platform with a built in heater which the chicken water...or a sslack tank...can sit on. I've never had the chicken water freeze on me but can't say how a more open tank would react. These are a bit more expensive, about 125 watts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whiskeysup Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 Was wondering what you all use to keep your quenching water from freezing in the winter. I have an unheated shop and am thinking of putting salt in it. Dont want to use antifreeze because of the dogs. Thanks for any suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 Why do you need a quench tank? I have a bucket I fill on the way to the smithy and dump out on my favorite tree on the way back to the house. As I like bladesmithing I try to NOT to have a "blade killer" near my forge and anvil! Most steel for ornamental work nowadays is A-36 which can have problems being quenched too. All I need is a little water for cooling tools and stock I am hand holding. We are not 19th (and earlier) century smiths forging real wrought iron that can be quenched with impunity. So we do not have to work like they did too; besides which modern steels are BURNING at the temperature a lot of real wrought iron is forged at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 I live in a place that rarely gets to freezing and not for very long when it does, but I've read that a wooden stick, any piece of scrap really, stood up in your quench tub will keep it from freezing solid. Never had to try it, YMMV. At the very least a length of 2x4 at hand will make breaking the surface ice easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 Not so much to avoid freezing solid, but placed at an angle in the slack tub to provide a path for the ice to angle up and avoid breaking the barrel half. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George N. M. Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 I'm with Thomas. At 7500 feet and 41 degrees North things freeze around here. I fill a bucket on the way to the shop and dump the slack tub when I'm done for the day. The latter is easy to forget but the next time out I have a slack tub-sicle with the ladle for a handle. Not fun to chip out. If you are in marginal freezing conditions salt would lower the freezing point but might tend to rust things more aggressively. Just fill and dump and consider it the price of not having the summers they do where freezing is not a problem. "By hammer and hand all arts do stand." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 I'm lucky: a few years back, a friend gave me an empty half-barrel beer keg that makes an excellent slack tub once you cut off one end. Since it's seamless and designed to withstand pressure, freezing isn't a problem; since it's stainless steel, I don't have to worry about it rusting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 5 hours ago, Whiskeysup said: Thanks for any suggestions. Were the previous 4 pages not helpful? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 1 hour ago, JHCC said: I'm lucky: a few years back, a friend gave me an empty half-barrel beer keg that makes an excellent slack tub once you cut off one end. Since it's seamless and designed to withstand pressure, freezing isn't a problem; since it's stainless steel, I don't have to worry about it rusting. I also have a stainless half keg with the end cut off for a slack tub. Best one yet! Killed the prior mop bucket by accidently dropping a BIG clinker in it, on the way to the clinker bucket, and burned a hole in the bottom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George N. M. Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 Plastic buckets are not a good thing in a blacksmith shop. It is too easy for them to contact something hot and then you have to contend with loose liquid contents escaping, easier with water, less so with quenching mediums. "By hammer and hand all arts do stand." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arkie Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 I have a 10 gal. galv. metal slack tub (trash can). I use a 0.8 amp (approx. 90 watt) birdbath/small container type heater. Temps down to zero and the tub has never frozen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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