Is my coal forge toast ....you know ancient history? | The Tools of the Trade | Forum

If anyone one has read some of my posts on IFI you'll know I work in a 400 ft shoebox thats rammed full of tools (including 3 power hammers).Thanks to Grant's wonderfull assistance I'll finally be getting an induction heater (stacks of help ..... and I'm not even buying it from him!!!!!). I've also lucked out and got a good sized kiln for heat treating for about $40
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayI.....K:MEWAX:IT

H'mmm ..... where am I going to put them?

Well I looked at my (home brewed, water cooled, side blast) forge. Scales fell from my eyes. I hardly ever use it. Big Gas forge does 90% of my work, hard fire bricks and a BIG oxy-propane nozzle is great for quick large focussed heats, induction forge will replace a lot of this ....... so why do I need my coal forge???

I've got a real healthy repect for the past and engineering pioneers but dressing up and playing at ye olde blacksmythe isn't my thing

Well that 10 square feet it takes up is real valuable real estate. I could mothball it in my garage back home and use the space for a "power tower". Level one water cooler for TIG and induction forge, level two induction heater, level three the kiln.

OPinions???

PS the forge has an "active" flue (extraction at top) because of it's narrow bore and the bend in it. I could use this make a hood over the gas forge and suck out all that pesky heat that FILLS my workshop. Some times I run the three burnesr most of a day. Bucket load of sweat drip down me, past my nethers and practically collect in my boots.

Might have to go over to blown burners though, turbulence might affect the atmospheric burners

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