[TheForge] Burning Clean

[Mike Porter]

Garrick,
There are only two approaches to energy "responsibility" for a blacksmith or
anyone else who wishes to work materials hot:

The first is proper combustion of their fuel source, combined with a frugal
attitude--down right miserly--about fuel consumption; this is practical.

The second is what I would dub the Don Quixote approach; indulging in
whimsical plans to use hydrogen (which by the way is a rather cold burning,
dangerous, and expensive fuel), assembling a couple acres of photovoltaic
cells to run electric heating coils, or building a massive reflector to beam
a super hot spot of concentrated light on your work. 

Please accept my apologies if this sounds brutal, but my philosophy boils
down to "it is what it is." Of course, you can always take public
transportation to work. Giving up the use of your car for commuting will do
a lot more to cut back on senseless energy waste than agonizing over fuel
spent heating a forge on your weekends.
Mikey 


From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Bob Ehrenberger
Sent: Wednesday, June 07, 2006 6:43 PM
To: theforge
Subject: Re: Re: [TheForge] Burning Clean

----Original Message -----
Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2006 09:25:03 -0700
From: "Garrick Peterson" <garrickp at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Re: [TheForge] Burning Clean

> I suppose if you were concerned enough, you could set up a forge to burn
hydrogen.

Now wouldn't that be a sight. Might be worth researching more. Though
I imagine that until our cars start running on Hydrogen the costs
might be a bit prohibitive.

> Well, far be it from my ignorant self to cast doubt of any kind on the
> pronouncements of "eminent scientists" when they declare global
> doomsdays of one sort and another.

All I shall say on the matter is that more scientists these are crying
wolf than are saying the wolf doesn't exist. That's worth something,
in my book. Might not affect me or my children, but beyond that? I'd
like to look my grandchildren in the eye and say I did what I could
while preserving an important piece of history.

----Reply-----

If the scientests don't cry wolf, they don't get grants for their research.

It tends to sqew things when only one view gets funding.

What did the cave men do to cause the ice-age, and then how did they reverse
the trend?

Robert Ehrenberger
Shelbyville, Mo.
eforge at centurytel.net


_______________________________________________
Manage membership or unsubscribe at:
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
theforge mail list group photo site is
http://www.photoaccess.com
Login:  blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
password:  anvil
___________