JMcCauley Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 I know there must be a detailed how-to on charcoal forges, but I built one on a whim and I'm just looking for suggestions to improve it. I built a waist high 2'x2' hollow brick box, put in a typical T blower/ash vent, suspended a stainless steel tray with slots in it, built the brick 2 levels higher from there, and filled the tray (excluding area over the vent) with brick. Depending on my project size I put firebricks over the top so that I have a semi-closed forge. I power it with a 215mph/12 amp leaf blower, and Kingsford charcoal. It burns about 1/4 bag of charcoal per hour, and I accidentally melted a railroad spike in it today. I am relatively satisfied with it, but I'm sure it could be improved. Does anyone with more experience with this have any helpful hints or suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bogdan Popov Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 (edited) What is I know there must be a detailed how-to on charcoal forges, but I built one on a whim and I'm just looking for suggestions to improve it. I built a waist high 2'x2' hollow brick box, put in a typical T blower/ash vent, suspended a stainless steel tray with slots in it, built the brick 2 levels higher from there, and filled the tray (excluding area over the vent) with brick. Depending on my project size I put firebricks over the top so that I have a semi-closed forge. I power it with a 215mph/12 amp leaf blower, and Kingsford charcoal. It burns about 1/4 bag of charcoal per hour, and I accidentally melted a railroad spike in it today. I am relatively satisfied with it, but I'm sure it could be improved. Does anyone with more experience with this have any helpful hints or suggestions? Could you please post the picture of how the fire grate looks like? It is really imortant the configuration of the holes through which the air gets to the burning zone. However in my experince if one is going to get the most from her charcoal -- simple side blast forge with 1 inch pipe openning is the best. Much better way to control the Oxygen and get the spot fire and save the charcoal Edited April 28, 2013 by Bogdan Popov Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dennis mcadams Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 Having been a user of coal/charcoal for a number of years you have made a good start. You can search for coal forge design plans as they are typically the same just using different fuels so this may get you some ideas for improvements. I've also had the opportunity to run a side-blast charcoal forge and I really like them. At some point you may want to look into a source for wood charcoal, I'm not sure if that is what you referred to as I don't know if kingsford makes any or not but grilling charcoal brickettes have lots of extra things in them and a wood charcoal fire is the sweetest gentlest fires you can work in but they can get as hot as you need. Also, that sounds like a whole lot of air!? Just my observations vs experience. Good luck and keep experimenting, Denis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMcCauley Posted April 28, 2013 Author Share Posted April 28, 2013 Thanks for the responses. I'll look into the side-blast thing and post pics next time I'm using it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMcCauley Posted May 2, 2013 Author Share Posted May 2, 2013 Here are some pics of the grate and everything. I used lump charcoal today and found that it didn't work as well as the Kingsford standard brick stuff. It burns plenty hot, but burns off too fast and throws a lot of embers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZebDeming Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 That blower seems like it would be wayyy too much. For a forging fire something as small as a hairdryer will work good with charcoal. What kind of hardwood lump did you use? Stay away from anything that contains mesquete, that stuff throws the worst sparks ever. Though with that much air, a bottom blast and using charcoal it may just make alot of sparks try choking down the air and put a really simple side blast tuyere in there to try it out. Zeb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMcCauley Posted May 3, 2013 Author Share Posted May 3, 2013 It was mesquite. I'll try something weaker, and hopefully quieter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Bland Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 Look up Whitloxhomestead.com They market a really neat wood charcoal forge. Look up on facebook woodburning forges If you run, you will only die tired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMcCauley Posted May 3, 2013 Author Share Posted May 3, 2013 That is a brilliant design, and I have more elm trees than I can shake a stick at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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