What can I put in my slack tub to keep it from freezing?

C

Chris Meyer

Joined
Aug 15, 2005
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1,297
I am currently using a 30 gallon steel drum for a slack tub. My forge and stuff are in my shed which has electricity, so I could put a heating element in it to keep the water from freezing. However, I don't get all that many opportunities to forge, so I would be using a lot of electricity for little return.

Are their any minerals or chemicals (which won't kill me or hurt my steel) that I can put in my slack tub to keep it from freezing? I thought of using salt but I was afraid it would make all of my steel rust. I have used windshield washer fluid in the past, with mixed results. I have also considered anti-freeze or baking soda. I don't like the anti-freeze idea because its poisonous. If the baking soda would work it might also help to keep the water from getting so nasty.

I'm sure many of you have already figured out a way to overcome this problem, so I would greatly appreciate it if you shared your wisdom with me. Thanks.

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Alcohol. :D
Don't try that. :)
You could empty the tub every time you quit and think it might get cold, and then refill it when you need it again.
 
Because the work areas in my garage are temporary, I empty my slack bucket out after every forging session, but, last year I used windshield washer fluid/water mix in my cooling bucket on the side of my grinder and never had a total freeze :eek: . You could try non-toxic anti-freeze that they sell in RV and camper dealers. :D

Larry T
 
Use IG's HT relish. It will not only keep the water from freezing but it will actually boil it 24/7.
 
TikTock said:
Use IG's HT relish. It will not only keep the water from freezing but it will actually boil it 24/7.
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HEHEHEHE!!!! Actual if you would stick BBBB BEAVER (Tblade) in it, it wouldn't freeze either :D :D ,because it's only relish running in his vein's.:eek: :eek:
 
indian george said:
HEHEHEHE!!!! Actual if you would stick BBBB BEAVER (Tblade) in it, it wouldn't freeze either :D :D ,because it's only relish running in his vein's.:eek: :eek:
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IG, just got 10, 8 once jars of smoked "heat treat relish" all canned up (yum yum) :eek: , should be enough to last a few months anyway :D
 
T Blade said:
You could try non-toxic anti-freeze that they sell in RV and camper dealers. :D Larry T
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Larry, that sounds like the ticket. I don't empty my slack tub in between trips to the forge because I don't have running water in my shed and I hate slopping buckets of water on myself in the winter. BRRRRR!

warrior24, would distilled water really not freeze in the cold?

PS: Indian George, if I stuck Larry in my slacktub, wouldn't all my steel be ruined anyway? :p
 
Chris Meyer said:
Larry, that sounds like the ticket. I don't empty my slack tub in between trips to the forge because I don't have running water in my shed and I hate slopping buckets of water on myself in the winter. BRRRRR!

warrior24, would distilled water really not freeze in the cold?

PS: Indian George, if I stuck Larry in my slacktub, wouldn't all my steel be ruined anyway? :p
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I'm pretty sure the RV anti-freeze is alcohol based. Make sure before you dunk hot steel in it. :eek: :)
 
As long as you didn't go above 35% or so by volume, I don't think you could ignite the alcohol. Test your mix on a small scale prior to mixing in your whole slack tub though. Denatured alcohol isn't all that expensive, or, if you can't get that as such, gas line antifreeze is usually alcohol (either denatured ethanol, or isopropyl) (heet, etc.) try to use isopropyl as it is the most hydrophillic. Again, test your mixture on a small scale prior to scaling up....you would hate to have a 30 gallon alcohol stove. I also don't know how long the alcohol would stay in the solution without evap, you would have to cover it well if that is what you used.
 
....Salt.....

I think you should be fine on the rust as long as you wash things down when you're done. (Kind of a pain, but your anvil and hammers would stay clean.

Not sure I like the idea of antifreeze (even "non toxic") since you'll be breathing the fumes when your put it in the fire.
 
Pee in it. Everyone knows that pee won't freeze cause if it did, it would clog your pipes and you would have a mess. :D

Of course, if you dunk hot metal in it, it will smell...Well...like pee.
 
Chris Meyer said:
PS: Indian George, if I stuck Larry in my slacktub, wouldn't all my steel be ruined anyway? :p
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HEHEHEHE!!!! I see that you know Larry pretty well.:eek: :D He is away wreaking things, when he is over here.:grumpy: He almost brunt down my smithy once.:( :eek: :D
 
Actually, I don't know Larry at all but it seemed to be the appropriate response. (No offense meant Larry :) )
 
On a more serious note - The concentrated water based coolant that you use on bandsaws and mills is also an antifreeze,IIRC.It should only take a quart to make a drywall bucket full of water keep from freezing up.It is OSHA approved,so I suspect it would be fairly safe.
 
Chris Meyer said:
Actually, I don't know Larry at all but it seemed to be the appropriate response. (No offense meant Larry :) )
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Chris not a problem with that response, IG gives me that kind of crap whenever I go to his house :eek: .

Chris weren't you the guy running around Ashokan last Sep. wearing several knives on your belt, with one of them being made from a bloom of iron that Mike MaCarthy made at the 05 Ashokan :confused: ?

Larry T
 
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