[TheForge] Induction Forge?

[Ries Niemi]

Grant Sarver, who is the Tong King of North America (he has personally 
made and sold over 30,000 pairs) is importing an induction heating 
inverter- its not exactly a "forge" although it will do what a forge 
will do for some things.
It is a small inverter power supply, about the size of a Miller 
inverter welder, like a dynasty.
It runs on 220, and needs a hose hookup or a tig welder type radiator.
It comes with a few copper coils, but they are easy, quick and cheap to 
make your own- copper coils, that is.
It will heat 6" of 1/2" square in something like 30 seconds.
It will heat steel to forge welding heat, easily.
He has already made a few special coils for edge heat treating blades, 
and once a few knifemakers get their hands on these, I am sure they 
will evolve much better ways of doing tempering and hardening with 
this.
For production blacksmithing, which basically means most any 
architectural work, this thing is amazing- it will heat pieces faster 
than you can forge them- so there is no longer any need to let pieces 
soak in a forge- you heat them to order as you need them.
Will do up to maybe 1 1/2" round or so.
I have seen Grant demo it, and it is truly like magic- you know the old 
quote- "any sufficiently advanced technology"- well this is 
sufficiently advanced.
Its quiet, quick, and will heat exactly the area you want, and no 
other- need a heat in the middle of a bar? or just a 2" piece at the 
end?
Its amazing.
Kaynes, which is Grants exclusive retail rep, is selling them.
They go for about $3800.
Not cheap, but for what they are, and the fuel, time, and waste they 
will save, they would pay for themselves quickly in a working shop on 
paying jobs. Its tough to do any totally handforged railing or fence 
job these days for under 10 grand- so in a couple of jobs, I think one 
of these would pay for itself.
They are very efficient in electricity use, so they are cheaper to run 
than propane forges most places- and they dont heat the shop at all, 
which might not be so good in Alaska, but in most places, thats a plus.

Jock reviewed them- http://www.anvilfire.com/news/
and go to page 2.

ries


On Aug 18, 2006, at 11:32 AM, Jerry Frost wrote:

> Induction forge Steve?
>
> Details? pics?
>
> Frosty
> -------------------------------
> If it ain't forged
> it ain't real.
> Wrought iron is.
> The FrostWorks
>
> Meadow Lakes, AK.
>
> http://www.artmetalradio.com/
>
> From: "Steve Kayne" <skayne at charter.net>
>
>
>> We will not be coming to Tannehill this year. Perhaps next year, we 
>> may be able to make the blade symposium and demo the induction forge.
>> We will be sending something for the auction
>> Thanks,
>> Steve.
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Ries Niemi
Industrial Artist

http://www.RiesNiemi.com