[TheForge] Burning Clean

[Mike Porter]

Aubrey,
Thanks for the recommendation. Recently a bunch of amateur founders got
together on the Peninsula for a casting party. I got to watch a coal forge
in action. My suspicions about their unsuitability for suburbia were
confirmed, but must admit that running the hand crank was a blast :-) 
Mikey 

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Washington, Aubrey O.
Sent: Wednesday, June 07, 2006 7:54 AM
To: Sponsored by ABANA
Subject: RE: [TheForge] Burning Clean

Garrick,
Of course Mickey is far too modest to say so, but a great place to start
learning about gas forges is his own book, "Gas Burners for Forges, Furnaces
& Kilns" by Michael Porter.  You can get through Skipjack Press:
http://www.atlasbooks.com/skipjack/001.htm  It's great information even if
you decide to go with another option.
 
Aubrey  (with a coal forge in the country)
 

________________________________

From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net on behalf of Mike Porter
Sent: Tue 6/6/2006 8:39 PM
To: 'Sponsored by ABANA'
Subject: RE: [TheForge] Burning Clean





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. It seems certain that if the heat doesn't get us, than
a monster meteor will. At least Chicken Little isn't having us jump under
our desks and face away from the windows anymore. However, we don't want to
get carried away with political questions about the ever pressing threat of
the living dead, etc. so on to heating equipment.

The perfect fuel is...whatever you like. That's right, there isn't any "one
shoe fits all", and my dog is no better than yours. The place to begin, is
to sit down with a cool one (cold beer, the ultimate weapon against global
warming) and consider your own convenience. I know it may sound crass and
ever so politically incorrect, but suiting yourself generally works out very
well.

For instance, if you live in suburbia, there really is a bogy-man who,
sooner or later, will show up at your door shortly after you start that coal
fire. He might be from the fire department, a policeman, or an agent of the
EPA; all of them can write citations. There will also be restless thoughts
of revenge against Tom, Dick, or Harry, whom you suspect of having turned
you in. Perhaps, a gas fired forge would be better than all that turmoil.

Of course, you can opt for charcoal, build a fancy brick barbeque, and "have
it your way," or even move off to a farm. A few guys swear that they can
burn oil cleanly, which also has its little problems; these are at least
technical rather than financially ruinous.

Just relax beer in hand, and think about what you want to get accomplished,
(also where you plan to do it). Next, start engineering backwards from the
desired conclusion, to the opening questions. Having concluded after much
soul-searching that gas fired is "just the ticket," you will have to begin
from scratch, deciding between naturally aspirated and fan blown forges.

Here, you really do have practical choices, as both types have their
virtues. I would suggest that this is probably the time to buy several
cases, and call in the experts for a scientific gathering. Please inform
your wife's attorney that I have no assets, and therefore naming me in the
divorce will do nothing to increase his/her take.

Mikey

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Garrick Peterson
Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2006 3:04 PM
To: theforge at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [TheForge] Burning Clean

I am an avid BBQer, and my plans for the next few months include
starting up my own little forge and to start earning my stripes as a
Blacksmith.

However, one can barely read the newspaper or internet anymore without
tripping over articles on Global Warming, CO2 emissions, and various
other doomsday prophecies. Whether I believe in them or not, I can't
see a disadvantage to trying to do something about it. How does the
phrase go?

"If I believe, and it's true, then I gain everything. If I believe,
and it's not true, I loose nothing. Therefor, I believe."

Poorly paraphrased, I agree, but the concept is sound. So, what can I
do as a budding blacksmith to limit hydrocarbon and CO2 emissions?
Looking for any suggestions you might have, from fuel sources to forge
designs.

I've also heard it said that Coal is one of the more efficient fuels,
as when you're not using it, it's burning at a much slower rate, thus
saving fuel. I wonder if that translates into emissions savings (say,
vs. NG or Propane) as well.

~Garrick
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