"Backyard Blacksmithing" pounding iron on the forge this evening!

I think it may be drafts within your shop and the area is too open.

Can you weld some metal hamging pins on the sides of the hood and hang some sheet metal down to close the sides.

Open on three sides is trying to pull a lot of air up at a slower speed from all around. Closed up a bit will draw air from less an area at a faster rate. Removabe sides will let you get bigger pieces in the table. Drill holes at the top of the sheet metal to hang on the pins.

 

You could always test with cardboard pieces first to see if it works.

 

Not for nothing, but where the fan above your stove flue tee is pulling air through the stove losing air pull from your hood. If the fan was below the stove tee, the fan would be dedicated to your hood. Your losing volume to a certain point.

 

I use a few different ones. I use Reading anthracite which burns clean but does not mound up. It is hard slippery coal. I use firebrick to mound it into an igloo. I add charcoal to get some really hot coals going, but charcoal shoots very hot embers. I also use bituminus and use a dipper cup with water to wet a ring around the pile to keep it centralized around the tuyere.

 

Sweet looks like a nice find! I've never seen anything like that at our scrap yards. You can probably make some pretty cool art work out of those old tools though.

 

I too tried the hard coal it didn't fair very well at all. It sounded like rice crispies and was constantly shooting hot embers out of my forge. From everything I read is to use soft coal that has good coking capabilities. I just need to find the right suff that puts out longstanding BTU'S. I'll let you know how the Kittanning coal works out, not sure if you have that kind avaliable where you live or not.
Maybe I am setting up my fire wrong? I use water to mound it up over the tuyere as well, but I always end up to break the mound apart after it gets going good to expose the hot coals. But it seems like after about 10 minutes I am raking fresh coal into the fire to keep it burning hot. Your probably not supposed to do that?

 

Maybe I'll have to move it below the tee like you said. I'll give it a shot next week when I can get out to get some more stove pipe!

 

Sounds good I think I'll do that as well!

 

I went and stuck a rod onto the wrench from the scrap pick today. My new twisting wrench. It took two tries as I needed more heat to get good penetration into the wrench which was harder than the rod.



Here is the coal I use. It is bituminous from Boston Coal. Unmarked and unknown what county or mine it is from. It cokes pretty good. I don't wet the mound, just around it.

Anthracite needs more air, bituminous uses less. If you think you are burning it up too quick, dump some air and see how it goes. Once the mound gets going, I try not to break it.

 

Here is a chain loop holder I made two weeks ago. I sent this to the Michigan GTG for a raffle prize.

 

Look's like it's a 100 years old , and that is meant as a compliment!

 

Any of you anvil beater's ever try to actually promote a light rust finish? I've always been partial to old found in the dirt forged metal parts, horseshoes, hinges etc. with that "patina of time" finish.

 

I haven't tried, but it is interesting. Some pitting would look good instead of just hammered iron.

Artificially aging steelwork

 

....or here in NE, tie wire it under your truck for the winter

 

Tell me about it. These winters take a toll on everything on or near a road.

 

That is an awsome idea! That is a definite must! I'll just add it to my to do list.

 

Yes I did win it and am very happy with it. I will find a place for it in my house when I'm done remolding it. fishingpol did some really nice iron work on it.

 

I made this hook tonight to give to the local 1697 house to close the wooden shutters when they are done for the day. The thick brick walls make it difficult to lean out and close the heavy shutters.

A single twist to break up the plain shaft. Where the handle loops and meets back, had a little play in it. I flattened out a small rod, heated it red and wrapped it around. A few taps while hot made it snug. When cooled, it tightened up nicely.
27" long, reverse curl at the hook end, so it doesn't dig into the wood.





I may do some work on a skimmer ladle that needs some major restoration work.