blowers for forges

Coal forge or Gas forge? Either way that one you linked to is a good one Marekz. For my big coal forge I used this one:

http://www.blacksmithsdepot.com/Tem...ducts/Forges_and_Parts/blowers/164_CFM_Blower

It will push enough air for 2 or 3 full size coal forges, I kept it choked to 1/4 or at most 1/2 of what it could do, and I was regularly working 1 1/2 inch round (making hammers). I estimated the maximum amount of heat that forge could handle would have been 3 or 4 inch round and that would still have been at 3/4 choke.
 
sam that one is kinda expensive, i was looking for onr for a gas forge. thanks marekz
 
Seems like I'm being the fly in the ointment on your questions, but thats not how I intend it.
Actually that first blower that Sam posted the link to is the way to go. Those little shaded pole blowers will not last very long on a forge application, and you will be repeatedly replacing them. The small shaded pole blowers are not designed to handle ANY back pressure...if they encounter back pressure, such as in a forge application, they draw more amps than they are designed to run at, overheat, and burn out. Some folks get lucky, and have them last for a while, especially if they do not run their forge much. I used them for a while, and over a 1 year period, purchased 6 of them for my welding forge due to burnouts. When I realized that I had spent more money than that first blower Sam posted would have cost, I just took the plunge and purchased one. That was 8+ years ago, and its still going strong.

The caveat to my input is that when I'm in the forging shop, its not unusual for my blower to run 8-10 hours a day, so I likely put more wear and tear on a blower than most would.
 
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It doesn't need to be variable speed but you need a large valve to control the flow.
 
Ebay and similar places will have plenty of blower units that will work for small time forges. If you aren't running ten hours a day, week in/week out , then almost any blower delivering 40 to 150 CFM will do. 80-100 CFM is plenty for most any forge. Adding a fan control to the line will make most of them variable speed. Many folks just use a light dimmer switch. A light dimmer and a shaded pole blower won't be the same as a real forge blower and control, but they won't set you back $150-300 either. It should cost about $20-30 for a usable unit. The control rheostat costs about $5-10.

Here is one that would run a good size forge:
http://cgi.ebay.com/papst-boiler-fu...5|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:0|293:1|294:50

Stacy
 
Purchase a blower that exceeds what is needed to supply the air to your forge. You can always choke it down or using a rheostat, slow the fan speed, but if you start out with too little cfm, there is no way to increase air volume, after you have installed it.

I run a 125 cfm on one gas forge and 140 on the other.

Fred
 
An important consideration is "will it blow against resistance" free air CFM is massively different than against static pressure as I found out with my first two gas forges. The 140CFM "forge blower" I bought from Centaur is a little Dayton with a thin rim squirrel cage, and by the time I drove it into a burner setup the resistance was too much. Look for delivery against static pressure. I don't think the little dayton will do it, it is halfthe size and the same design dayton that was inadequate on my small gas forge

-Page
 
Bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans will also work as blowers. Probably not enough air if your planning on making a bunch of damascus. My last exhaust fan at Home Depot cost me $12.00. First thing I hear when someone new comes into my shop is whats that while pointing at my burner and exhaust fan. It don't have to look like a blower if it works.
 
Flowers for the forge Hmmm. I would suggest a hearty variety. dont even thing about an orchid. Maybe a Carnations. Not real such about Roses. Let me know what you find out.
Oops was that "Blowers for the Forge". :) Never mind
 
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