[TheForge] Equipment for a newbie

Sat Nov 6 16:31:12 EDT 2010

As the "Saint" says blowers from use items such as a vacuum cleaner or hair 
blower will do the trick.  One place to find these for next to nothing is 
your local "thrift stores".  Price should be very low, but plug them in 
before buying and make sure they run.

Do you know someone who can do some welding for you?  I can send you a 
design of a welded firepot done by Lonne Farmer.  He used it to make a 
series of firepots for the boy scouts and they work quite well.  Made from 
1/4 inch steel plate and would work for charcoal as well as coal.  You can 
also use an old cast iron brake drum, that the way many smiths got started.

Dave Smucker
Brasstown, NC

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Saint Phlip" <phlip at 99main.com>
Sent: Saturday, November 06, 2010 3:34 PM
To: "Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Equipment for a newbie

> Blower- Old vacuum clear or a blow dryer will be fine. Set up an air
> shunt so you can adjust the air flow at the forge, and you're in
> business.
>
> On Sat, Nov 6, 2010 at 3:26 PM, Matt Gallagher <fudgumz at gmail.com> wrote:
>> I'm looking for some new or used equipment, such as a blower, forge if
>> possible, and some hammers. Some of you might remember my post a while 
>> back
>> asking for an anvil for a project. Ive found one, and now all i need is 
>> more
>> equipment. I can make the forge, thats not a problem. (although it would 
>> be
>> nice to get one pre-made (: ) I just need, at minimum, a blower. If 
>> anyone
>> has one, knows where i can get a cheap one, or has instructions on how to
>> make one, I would be happy to compensate. I have a sufficient hammer, its 
>> a
>> fairly large ball-peen.My first project is to make a more suitable 
>> hammer,
>> for which I have found several places where i can get instructions. So my
>> only problem really is an air-source. I contemplated making a blower, 
>> even a
>> set of bellows, but then remembered this forum and decided to give it a 
>> try.
>> Christmas is coming up, and my family has been dogging me for a list of 
>> what
>> I want. Something like this would both make an awesome gift, and make 
>> their
>> lives easier.
>> (PS.- I have around 100-150 lbs of charcoal, which i believe will work
>> sufficiently for fuel. I made it myself from hardwood [oak, cedar, and
>> maple] and some pine. I have been able to get steel to working 
>> temperature
>> with this in an outdoor fire pan with a blow pipe, but I would like a 
>> blower
>> so I don't have to inhale as much smoke or waste my oxygen. Any comments 
>> or
>> suggestions are welcome.)
>> (PS v.2.0- I have several designs for forges which I would like to share
>> with all of you out there for feedback, but my scanner is broken at the
>> moment. when I get it fixed, I will send out the best of these plans. I 
>> will
>> try to make them as understandable as possible. [I tend to use the
>> engineering side of my brain, and in doing so, forget about
>> understandability to others] Also, if anyone has designs they would like
>> feedback on, I would be glad to oblige. If anyone would like to revamp my
>> designs they are welcome to, provided they send me a copy of the final
>> draft.)
>>
>> ~Matt Gallagher, your friendly teenage smith :)
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>
>
>
> -- 
> Saint Phlip
>
> So, you think your data is safe?
> http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/01/23/schneier.google.hacking/index.html?hpt=T2
>
> Heat it up
> Hit it hard
> Repent as necessary.
>
> Priorities:
>
> It's the smith who makes the tools, not the tools which make the smith.
>
> .I never wanted to see anybody die, but there are a few obituary
> notices I have read with pleasure. -Clarence Darrow
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