[TheForge] charcoal firepots

Tue Jul 9 07:50:01 2002

Walt and Bob-

This is a very realistic thing and I think you have hit on it very well.  I
know that on the rivet forge, I push the handle for the blower when I need
it, and on the brake drum forge, I leave the blower setting alone once I
find a good spot for it.  Therefore the biggest difference in the way I
treat the fires in the 2 forges is the difference of the amount of air they
get.  I had not thought of this difference at all.

Thanks,
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/

----- Original Message -----
From: "Walter L. Mullett" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 08, 2002 9:19 AM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] charcoal firepots

> 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
> >