[TheForge] Side draft forge

[Bob Ehrenberger]

I know that we have beat this thing to death. So please bare with me. When I
took a class at Tom Clark's school he had an interesting draft set up.  On
the outside of the building by each forge he just had a large stove pipe
(around 12") which was capped at the bottom and a "T" going through the wall
next to the forge, maybe a 2' horizontal run. These forges really worked
well and sucked all the smoke.

We did have one interesting incident.  Since it was December we would close
the doors when we broke to eat.  After one of our meals I came back to my
forge and the draft was going backwards.  With all the doors closed there
wasn't enough make up air to supply the 10 forges and my forge became the
fresh air supply for the rest of the shop.  Even after opening the doors we
couldn't get it to draw, the flue was too cold.  Finally Tom got out his
weed burner and gave my flue a healthy blast.  That turned it around and got
it drawing again.

Conclusion,  Side draft forges work,  you need heat, you need fresh air.

Robert Ehrenberger
Shelbyville, Mo.