[TheForge] Forge explosion

[Ralph]

At 10:30 PM 10/9/02 -0500, you wrote:
>Hi guys,
>
>The other day when I was getting started making coke, I stoped cranking to
>go get something and suddenly there was a wosh pop in my forge. I guess some
>of the volital gasses backed up into the ash dump and then ignited. No harm
>done.
>
>I was wondering if any of you have ever had or seen a serious explosion in a
>coal forge. At one of the BAM workshops we had a much louder explosion but
>it didn't blow the coal out of the fire pot or any thing like that.
>
>Bob Ehrenberger
>Shelbyville, Mo

YES!!!!!!
It used to be the practise at the Fort Vancouver NHS Blacksmith shop to 
make coke at the end of the day. We had 4 forges (two at each end of the 
shop sharing a common chimeny) with a bellows for each forge. One day one 
of the volunteers  ( not I ) failed to keep an air flow going. Since 
methane is one of the volatiles given off and since it is lighter than air 
it rose up into the bellows. After several mins of this he then started to 
pull on the bellows. Some how a spark got up into the bellows. The 
resulting explosion completely shredded the 3/4 planks and plywood used in 
teh constuction of said bellows. Screws were driven into the heavy timber 
walls 20 feet away.

So it will behoove folks to keep a slight air blast going while there is 
the heavy green/white smoke coming from the fire.


Ralph


"Good is the enemy of Excellent. Talent is not necessary for Excellence.
Persistence is necessary for Excellence. And Persistence is a Decision."