[TheForge] Induction Forge?

[Jerry Frost]

I wasn't trying to suggest anybody work harder than 
they want to. Oh heavans NO!

All I was pointing out is induction isn't limited to 
straight items.

On the other hand speed and especially fine control is 
a good thing when you want or need it. Heck, next to 
noise heating anything that gets close is the most 
common complaint I hear about propane forges.

So far we don't have electrical rationing but we spend 
a bit for what we get so elec consumption is a factor 
here too. One of the practical aspects I don't know is 
it's power consumption. Is it drawing all the time or 
does it just idle along till you put something in it? 
Can you turn it off and on or does it have to "warm 
up"?

There're a lot of things I don't know about induction 
heating beyond the shallowest understanding of the 
basic principle. I don't know if it's practical on my 
scale of operation or even affordable to run. I am 
interested though, I see a lot of potential. <grin>

Frosty
-------------------------------
If it ain't forged
it ain't real.
Wrought iron is.
The FrostWorks

Meadow Lakes, AK.

http://www.artmetalradio.com/

From: "Michael" <michael.a.porter at comcast.net>


> Frosty,
> Perhaps; on the other hand, the very first complaint 
> heard about my tube
> forge design was that it made the operator "work to 
> hard." How fast we need
> to heat the metal depends on how fast the work is 
> done. With multiple parts
> heating in the forge, very fast hammering indeed 
> would be needed to outstrip
> the forge's heating speed. Such fast hammering would 
> be more likely with
> production work than fine art.
>
> Induction sounds quite promising, but I'm far from 
> abandoning the premise
> that "one shoe does not fit all." Nor would I jump 
> too quickly into deep
> dependency on electrical use--not for the urban 
> smith. In Seattle for
> instance, penalties for electrical use beyond a 
> fairly minimal amount can
> send utility bills into the stratosphere. Just 
> running the air conditioner
> in summer's heat pushes me close to the edge. So, I'm 
> personally reluctant
> to increase electrical use in my hobbies beyond power 
> tools and a 110V MIG
> welder. There is a great divide between the needs of 
> the professional shop
> and the realities faced by husbands defending their 
> garage based ambitions
> before irate wives :-)
> Mikey
>