[TheForge] Forge design

[Bruce Freeman]

Sounds like an ordinary job for a rosebud torch.  (I'm no expert, but
I've seen these in action.)  So what IS she using?

It may help to back up the part she's working with an insulating
firebrick, during the heating operation, to reflect the heat back.
These are so friable that you could actually bore a hole down the
middle (easily, I mean) and mount it on a handle or stand.    That way
the reflective brick would be where you want it while heating with no
trouble.

On Sun, Apr 25, 2010 at 8:05 AM, Rich Maynard <rich at maynard.org.uk> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I have been approached by a metal sculptor for some help with part of one of
> the processes involved in a new series of sculptures she is creating.
>
> They are basically approximately 3 foot diameter spherical balls made up
> from a mesh of 1/8" mild steel wire at around 1" spacing. One of her
> assistants MIGs these up, then she likes to heat areas of the sculpture and
> beat into shape with a hammer. At the moment they are using oxy-acetylene
> torches to do this with, but are finding that they can only work a small
> area at a time.
>
> My suggested solutions are:
>
> 1. Use a bigger oxy-acetylene torch (or oxy-propane). Quite wasteful of gas,
> but simple and controllable and also uses equipment they already have.
>
> 2. Build a big gas forge, like one of Mike Porter's. This would be a huuuge
> forge, take quite a long time to heat up and make the whole sculpture hot
> and malleable, which wouldn't necessarily allow the boss to do what she
> wants - I envisage the whole thing caving in when she starts laying into it
> with a hammer...
>
> 3. A version of a 'real' forge. This would be coke-fired (no problem getting
> coke in the UK) and would have to be lit with an oxy-fuel torch - the
> 'studio' is under a railway line and the smoke from using a wood-fire to
> start the forge isn't acceptable. I have taken the opportunity to draw up an
> idea using Google Sketchup, and uploaded some jpegs of the results here:
>
> http://www.muchhadhamforge.co.uk/Forge.jpg
> <http://www.muchhadhamforge.co.uk/Forge.jpg>
> http://www.muchhadhamforge.co.uk/Plate%20up.jpg
>
> <http://www.muchhadhamforge.co.uk/Plate%20up.jpg>There is a sort of  'air
> chamber' driven from a biggish fan (probably 3-phase to make controlling the
> speed via an inverter easier). A semi-disposable 3/8" plate drops into the
> top of the chamber; this plate can have different patterns of holes to give
> bigger/smaller fires as needed for the sculpture being worked on. If we find
> a pattern that works well, we might have it cut in stainless steel for a
> slightly extra longer life.
>
> This is a bit out of my experience, and I would really, really appreciate
> anyone's observations on my thoughts/plans.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Rich.
>
> Richard Maynard - Artist Blacksmith
> The Forge, High Street, Much Hadham, Hertfordshire SG10 6BS
>
> www.muchhadhamforge.co.uk
> rich at muchhadhamforge.co.uk
>
> Be a blacksmith for a day!
> <http://www.muchhadhamforge.co.uk/experience>
> www.muchhadhamforge.co.uk/experience
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-- 
Bruce
NJ