[TheForge] Chip forge

[Jerry Frost]

I think you're probably solidly on base Steve.

I don't know enough about these things to decide which of our logical 
arguments is more valid. What you say makes perfect sense. Maybe my point 
about the speed of heat transfer is either invalid or irrelevant. I don't 
think it's too far off base though. I just don't know.

Good thing there're more than one base in the ball park eh?

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

Meadow Lakes, AK.

http://www.artmetalradio.com/

From: "Steve Smith" <sos at alum.mit.edu>


>I could be completely off base here, but why does the surface area matter 
>in radiative transfer? If the chips are all pretty much at the same 
>temperature, isn't the steel already getting its max radiation, regardless 
>of the chip surface area? Isn't the air (whatever) itself between chips 
>radiating at the same temp as the chips? I think the steel is already 
>getting the max IR since it is completely surrounded by a constant 
>temperature environment.
>
> An isolated chip is going to radiate heat away faster if it has larger 
> surface area, but that's not what we've got.
>
> Now I do think that chip shape is pretty important. Chip size and shape 
> determines how well the flame flows through them and heats them. You might 
> want lighter, smaller chips for small pieces of work, but lighter chips 
> are probably more fragile too.
>
> I may have to build one of these forges, sounds pretty decent.
>
> Steve
>