What does a forge blower do?

The forge blower is one of the most important tools in a blacksmith’s workshop. The function of the blower is to deliver a consistent air supply to the base of the fire to aid the combustion process.

Can you use regular charcoal for a forge?

Charcoal has much more carbon than normal wood (hence the black color) and is a much more efficient fuel source for a blacksmith forge. Charcoal will burn longer and hotter than normal wood and is comparable with coal as a fuel source – more on coal later. Charcoal was the fuel of choice for centuries of blacksmithing.

Can you forge with a grill?

Here’s how you can make the quality steel that is found in bicycle parts live on, by forging it into blades to create useful tools. The best thing though is that this can be done on a normal barbecue using lumpwood charcoal and a camping airbed inflation fan as a bellows.

What kind of charcoal is used for forging?

Bituminous Coal Bituminous is the coal-of-choice for the blacksmith. It is a soft, mid-grade, black coal. Mined from deeper mines than lignite, it burns much more cleanly. When burning coal in the forge, we keep a “stock pile” of wet coal on the sides of the fire.

Can you turn a propane grill into a forge?

Blacksmithing is both a hobby and a useful skill. Building a homemade blacksmith forge is fairly easy, and with a few tools and some hard work, you can build your very own pipe tuyere forge very inexpensively. …

Can you forge with electricity?

It is shown that, using electrical current, flow stresses are reduced, resulting in a lower specific energy for open-die forging. Overall, this work demonstrates that substantial increases in the forgeability of metals are achieved by deforming the material while applying an electrical current.

What is the best material to use for a forge?

If the forge is properly insulated, then only the area around the mouth will get to red heat. 14ga sheet metal – or even lighter is fine. If you do go for heavy construction, keep the weight down to something you can lift by yourself. Many forges are made from discarded freon bottles.

How to tell if a forge is atmospheric or atmospheric?

Atmospheric burners use higher gas pressures and smaller orifice sizes. Typically a #58 jet running 0-20psi. At the high end the forge will roar like a jet engine. The exhaust should be an orangey yellow – or perhaps just a little bit of blue if you want to run it rich.

What is the best way to set up an iron forge?

Red hot iron landing on bare wood will instantly burst into flames – no messing about with charring. Make sure that the area around the forge is free of combustible materials. A piece of cement board makes a good surface to set the forge on. It is also a good idea to cover the gas line with some flexible conduit.

Are MIG wire contact tips necessary for a mini forge?

If you are having trouble drilling tiny jet sizes, then the MIG wire contact tips are an excellent idea. Plenty of air: A mini forge can consume a bbq sized propane bottle in a day. That’s a lot of oxygen. If the forge is starved for oxygen, then so are you! Worse, if the forge doesn’t have enough oxygen it will produce carbon monoxide.