Solar forging? (was Re: [TheForge] crackpottery)

[Erik Gutfeldt]

On Dec 12, 2005, at 11:11 AM, Tod Estes wrote:
> Mythbusters tried to replicate that, No luck. Drats.

Yeah, but a bunch of students at MIT had a bit more success:

http://web.mit.edu/2.009/www/lectures/10_ArchimedesResult.html

Though still unlikely that Archimedes was able to burn up ships with  
a mirror.

 From their calculations, the sun provides (Solar insolation) 1000 W  
per square meter. So how many watts do you need for forging?  Hmm 4.7  
cuibic foot 2350F ceramic kiln draws 30A @ 240V = 7200W That's 7.2  
square meters, or about 78 square feet. I guess that would fit in my  
back yard...

OTOH, said kiln takes 5.5 hours to reach temperature. I guess the  
strength of my hammer arm won't be the limiting factor anymore :)

Anyone out there use electric power for forging? Yeah, welding fer  
sure, but forging?

Erik