[TheForge] Chip forge

[Michael Horgan]

Think pea-coal sizes up to walnut sized chunks, Dan. They need to be 
fairly round to allow for free flow of flame  through them. If they 
pack too well no heat gets through. I picked up some alumina tumbling 
media from another smith , but to my mind, it's too small.
Today I went by Laguna Clay, 
http://www.lagunaclay.com/volumev/equip2.pdf , and picked up a few 
pounds of grinding balls for ball mills. They have them for $4.00 to 
$5.00 a pound, sizes 1/2", 3/4", 1", and 1 1/4", in white alumina. 
They aren't perfectly round, but close, and should do just 
fine.   The half inch balls are about 80 to the pound, while the Inch 
and a quarter balls are 8 to the pound.  I'm working on the fire pot 
for my chip forge this weekend.


At 05:03 PM 3/3/2006, you wrote:
>__I seen discussion about the forge but no one has mentioned the size of the
>balls.  Do they need to be balls or irregular pieces that pack similar to
>coal/coke.
>Dan in Auburn

Michael D. Horgan , lughaid at earthlink.net
http://members.aol.com/lughaid/
posting from
  A BRAZEN FORGERY
Blacksmithing and Metalwork
Claremont, Ca.