[TheForge] Induction Forge?

Fri Aug 18 22:52:58 EDT 2006

We have been using the induction forge in our shop for a few months now and 
it is magic.   We forgeweld with it and it is an experience to see the 
process taking place before your eyes and having total control over it. 
Teaching someone to forge weld using the I. F. is light years ahead of using 
a coal or gas forge.  They can see the process taking place and you can 
explain what is going on and there is no thing between you preventing you 
from seeing everything that is going on.  The transition of the steel being 
heated from magnetic to non magnetic is very dramatic and the I. F. 
indicates the transition very clearly.  We heat everything from 1/4" round 
to 1/4 x 2 1/2 so far in the I. F.   It is very quick.  30 seconds is a long 
time.  A lot happens in 5 or 8 seconds.   The heat is very localized and 
this permits certain forging operations to be done much easier than they 
have ever been done in the past, since the steel reacts in the restricted 
heated area and not in the unheated area, the area is heated so quickly that 
there is very little travel beyond the area under the coil.  We have not 
fully found out the limits and possibilities of the I. F.  as our jobs have 
not taken us into enough varied areas.   What its limits are will be 
determined in time, but it is a fantastic tool and we enjoy finding out what 
it will do for us each day as we tackle that day's projects.   Like any new 
tool, you have to think about it and determine if it has the capabilities to 
do that day's work.  So far we have found few times that it was unable to do 
the job better than and quicker than coal, gas, etc.  We solder with it,  we 
braze with it and of course forge weld with it, or maybe it is not called 
forge welding but magic.  As we test it further,  we will be happy to pass 
along our findings as I know Grant will and is.   The coils are very easy to 
make.  We use 3/16 and 1/4" copper tubing.  It is easy to form and we use 
the I. F. to solder it.  It is really done very quickly and reminds me, for 
some strange reason, of making dies for the fly press.  Perhaps because like 
the fly press, without its dies or coils, it is useless and its limitations 
are limited by what we dream up in the way of coils.   Sorry we are so long 
winded, but as you can tell, we are very much enamered with I. F.    Where 
has it been all our lives.  It saved us a great deal of time and made our 
task easier so far and certainly a lot more fun.

Steve Kayne
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ries Niemi" <rniemi at fidalgo.net>
To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, August 18, 2006 6:10 PM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Induction Forge?

> 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
>
>
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