From: sab@gnv.ifas.ufl.edu
Newsgroups: rec.crafts.metalworking
Subject: Re:Firepot on a forge (coal/gas/charcoal)
Date: 4 Jan 93 08:28:08 -0500

Greetings:

  A couple of quick comments on the firepot/gas/coal thread.  I've been
doing medieval armour (Japanese 16th century kabutos & do-maru plus the
standard pot-helm items) since 1974 and have been banging on hot iron
since apprx 1980, so I know from whence you come, Ford.

  There are blacksmiths all over the country.  I'm a member of ABANA
and FABA (Fla. Artist & Blacksmith Assoc.) and will post a Maryland
contact tomorrow (if I remember to dig out the ANVIL's RING tonight).

  While you can make a forge pot (and I've done it), you're generally
better off popping for a decent pot from Centaur Forge or some other
supplier.  The investment eventually shows up in your work.  In my
shop, I use a Centaur pot (9"x14"?) and have a second for my portable
forge when I'm doing Medieval Faires and demos.  I've used a
brake drum but a shallow fire + excessive scale tended to offset the
cheapness of the pot.

  Coal is smelly, smoke-prone, but authentic as hell.  Nothing like the
scent of green coal early in the morning (cough, gasp, wheeze...).  Coal
is a fine fuel, especially for large objects - such as barn door hinges,
architectural items, etc.  Gas is cleaner, often cheaper, and often is
superior with regard to scale.  The kicker here is the gas forge.  I
run a coal forge with a side-draft flue for big items and a Sandia gas
forge for small work and knives.  The Sandia forge goes from room temp
to 2400-2500 F in 7 minutes and runs for 8 hours on a 20lb propane
tank.  Plans are available through ABANA and there are construction
workshops held occassionally by the various forge councils (mine ran
$350 including the thermocouple/temp sensor).  One of the nicest
features of the Sandia forge is that it is an atmospheric forge, i.e.,
no blower and very quiet.  You can hold a bullshit session next to it
while it's running at full blast.  On the other hand, I've seen
Mankel forges which sound like jet engines, take an hour to reach
working temperature and can drain a 100lb propane tank without much
effort.  The difference is raw capacity - the Sandia forge box is
4" x 12" x 14" while a big Mankel is huge.  The bottom line is that
both coal and gas work, but both have advantages and disadvantages.
You can get cooking faster over coal, i.e., less capital investment,
but watch out for non-sympathetic neighbors.  If you are primarly
thinking knives, think gas (and keep an ear out for a Sandia gas
forge workshop).

  Incidentally, you can forge quick well over charcoal and you can
cook your lunch at the same time (make a fork and then cook a
sausage with it - always a good crowd pleaser at a Medieval Faire).
The only problem is heat radiation.  With coal, you can bank the
fire and confine the heat to a localized area.  With charcoal, the
whole forge gets hot - including all the tools that you toss off
to one side.  If you use charcoal - be sure to wear a wide-brim
hat.  Lots of fine ash will settle out on the back of your neck!
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   Steve Bloom       | "It's easier to find something that isn't
 Soil Science, U.Fla.|  there...when it's not there in large
SAB@GNV.IFAS.UFL.EDU |  quantities"  L.Slobodkin (Woods Hole, 1969)
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Newsgroups: rec.crafts.metalworking