Show me your ribbon burner fans! | The Forge Fire | Forum

I have the smallest ribbon burner from pine ridge. I bought the large blower that Grant always spoke of, Got it at blacksmiths Depot. Runs good, although it takes a while to really get hot because i used a castable refractory. Sorry this is the only pic i've got right now.

I have found that there are multiple factors that have to be considered when using ribbon burners. One is that the forge has to be a proper size for the ribbon burner. If the burner is too big for the forge, or there is not enough opening (doors to alleviate back pressure from the burner), it probably won't work. The second major issue is the blower (if this is a forced air burner).

One key to success with a ribbon burner IS to have enough air. The conventional wisdom would be.... if the fan outputs enough CFM, it should work. There are, however, two components that need to be sufficiently present for a blower to work with a ribbon burner. Lots of blowers will seemingly move enough volume, but volume is only one of the components. Acutually, a ribbon burner does not need a high volume blower. The blower primarily needs to be able to create and maintain air pressure when the air movement is severly restricted. MOST blowers will fail in that department when used with ribbon burners. The way to easily tell if a blower has a chance to work with a ribbon burner is to turn it on full blast and cover the output opening with your hand. If you put your hand over the opening very loosely, the fan will still move air out (and you will feel some air pressure). The looser you hold your hand over the opening, the more air will come through. If you close it off completely, the fan blades will just spin, churning the air in the chamber with the blades.

The next test is to cover the opening so very little air can come through (this simulates how a ribbon burner works). If you feel the fan vigorously still trying to force air out, it is creating and maintaining air pressure... if it does, it may work with a ribbon burner. Most blowers will not be trying to force air out if the passage is severly blocked. The blades will be spinning, but again, they will only be churning air in the chamber.

Why does there need to be pressure? A ribbon burner has a plenum. The plenum has an "air entry point" on one side, and multiple holes out another side through which the air/gas mixture goes to make the flames. Air needs to be "pumped" into that plenum with enough "maintained" pressure for the burner to work. That pressure keeps the air/gas mixture going out into the forge (not back firing) and thus promotes proper burner behavior.

The next question is "how much volume and pressure is needed"? The answer depends upon the design of the ribbon burner. If you have a commercial ribbon burner, it should have come with specifications. In this environment, pressure is measured in water-column inches. For example, if you buy a commercial ribbon burner, the specifications should tell you the range of water-column inches (pressure) the burner will need to work. The more pressure you have, the higher performance you will get (up to a point). Water-column inches are measured with a manometer. You can easily make one with a clear plastic hose (you have to put a fitting on your forge to accomodate its use). I found instructions on the internet to make one.

The blown ribbon burner I bought was from Pine Ridge. It was the smallest one they sell. Their website has a LOT of information about their burners, including pressure requirements for their burners. They sell some small blowers that they claim will work with their burners. They may work, but will not produce much performance. It takes well over the 2.5 inches of WC their best blower produces (I think it's the same blower Blacksmith Depot sells for $175). I don't think either business sells high performance blowers. I ran my forge at over 5 inches of WC pressure to get reasonable performance (it's going to depend upon the design of the burner).

I was not satisfied with the performance of my blown (yes there are ribbon burners that work with venturis) ribbon burner until I used a high-volume high-pressure blower. I also needed to use a "variable auto-transformer" (essentially a high amp dimmer switch) to control the speed (and thus pressure) of the blower.

If your burner is home-made, I would expect you need to experiment with the pressure to get the performance you want. I just kept cranking up the air and gas pressure (much like you would adjust an oxy/acet torch) till I got the performance I wanted.

I'm sure there are lots of commercial (very expensive) blowers out there that will work. I've used two. One is a Mighty VAC, model 275 (one of those very expensive ones if you buy it new), I bought at an auction for about 30 bucks. The second blower is one I bought at a flea market for $15. It is a blower that was used to blow up one of those things kids climb into and bounce around. I gave that blower to a friend, so I don't know the brand and model number.

The auto transformer I use is made by Staco Energy Products, Type 3PN1010... rated for 12 amps. Any product that will handle the amperage of the blower should work (check Harbor Freight for a speed controller).

Look for a blower that will pass the tests I described above and your blower problems will be over...

More notes.... I went back to using venturi burners. If I had a need for a LARGE forge to heat large masses of metal, I would be using a blown ribbon burner. If you have those needs, ribbon burners are great. Most of my forging is done in a very small forge and a blown ribbon burner is more than I need.

How big is the air feed tube? are you sure you can force enough air though the pipe?