[TheForge] charcoal firepots

Mon Jul 8 10:34:01 2002

Bob,

Interesting deduction that the size of the clinker is variable with the
amout of air.  On both of my forges, I have hand crank blowers and I
develope only a few small clinkers.  I had attributed that result to the
quality of my coal.  However, when I visit other shops that have electric
blowers, I see they get large clinkers.  Looks like you are probably right
in your deduction.

Unlike you though, I don't mind the few small clinkers I get.  I like the
control I get with the hand crank, my fire stays cleaner longer and it will
hold, un-attended, for almost 2 hours.

Walt

-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Rackers <[email protected]>
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Date: Monday, July 08, 2002 9:40 AM
Subject: RE: [TheForge] charcoal firepots

>I suspect that you're actually reaching a higher temperature (on a regular
>basis) in the brake drum forge, and consequently reaching the fusing
>temperature of your coal.
>At the fusing temperature, the clinker will form into a larger single mass,
>whereas below the fusing temperature it won't.
>I'm assuming you're using the same coal in both forges, of course.
>I've also heard it said that the amount of clinker is proportional to the
>amount of air you feed the fire, but, if true, I've always attributed that
to
>the proportional relationship of air input to fire temperature.
>
>The reason your fire may be going out quicker in the brake drum forge is
due to
>several factors, but it sounds to me this particular case like this may not
be
>a fair comparison.
>Have you ever built a new clean fire in the brake drum forge, just fired as
was
>done in the rivet forge, and determined how long the fire lasted?
>Have you taken used the rivet forge in a manner similar to what you did in
the
>brake drum forge (length of forging session, typical amount of forge
welding,
>etc)?
>
>If the comparison still holds, then it's possible the rivet forge is still
able
>to get a little air which keeps the fire going on its own, where your brake
>drum forge may have been more airtight.
>
>There are many factors involved in fire management (such as the type of
fuel,
>the type of firepot, type of blast, type and size of forge) that make it
very
>hard for anyone to make any absolute statements about what is proper and
>correct.
>That's why I listen to, but rarely follow, the friendly advice from others
>about the "right way" to tend a fire.
>One has to know enough about the variables involved to try different things
and
>figure out for themselves what works better for their particular
circumstances.
>
>I might mention that I had some coal once that had a very high fusing
>temperature. I was anxious to give it a try, thinking a higher fusing
>temperature, the less clinker.
>That is, until I came to realize that the higher fusing temperature meant
>instead of getting a single mass of clinker which I could pull out all at
once,
>the result was many small pieces of clinker I had to fish out individually.
I'd
>actually have to pull the fire apart completely, let it cool, separate the
>clinker "flakes" from the coke, and start a new fire. Personally, I'll take
a
>big single mass of clinker over clinker flakes any day.
>
>Bob
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: [email protected]
>[mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Rafter Lazy C
>Sent: Monday, July 08, 2002 7:52 AM
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: Re: [TheForge] charcoal firepots
>
>
>I have recently had a thing driven home to me.  I have a forge that I made
>from an old  brake drum and an electric blower with a light dimmer switch
>for blower control.  The wind this spring took down my chimney, and I
>haven't had time to fix it the way I want, so I keep leaving it alone.  I
>also have a rivet forge that I got at an auction.  In my brake drum forge
>(my forge) I find that a fire left unattended will go out in about 10 - 15
>minutes.  Also, I get huge amounts of clinker in this forge.  In the rivet
>forge, I found out yesterday that a fire left unattended for about 2 hours
>(with lots of coal and just fired well before leaving it) will still have a
>lot of heat to it, and will start right back up when you crank the blower.
>Both forges are bottom draft, and I could not believe the difference until
I
>saw it with my own eyes.  I get almost NO clinker with the rivet forge.
Let
>me know what you all think are the reasons for this, please.  I thought
that
>I built a nice little forge, but after using this rivet forge, I can hardly
>figure out what is going on.
>
>Rick Crawford at  Rafter Lazy C
>Home of Rick's Forge and Lem the Wonder Mule
>email = [email protected]
>home page = http://www.tbcnet.com/~rafterlazyc/
>near Rochelle, in the middle of northern Illinois, USA
>
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