1:19 pm
December 27, 2011
I have read snipets, on this website, as well as IFI, AF, and Forgemagic about induction forges. I am a tool manufacturer in Pennsylvania, and have been using coal or gas for the last 35 years. After watching the youtube videos of Grant's, I gotta get one! Who to I talk to to acquire one of these machines? The biggest forgings I do are 1080 steel rounds in two and three eights diameter. I need an induction forge that will heat that material as fast as the induction forges in those videos. You can contact me, at my shop, at 215-768-5735. In advance, thank you for any information you can provide.
3:16 pm
April 12, 2010
sadly Grant was the only importer of induction forges.
OCP is in the proccess of being sold and the future of the induction forge side of things is up in the air. Larry is the second most knowledgeable person on this topic that i know maybe he can help.
maybe you can convince someone who already has one that they don't need it and sell it to you? haha
Good luck, they are awesome machines.
3:52 pm
May 27, 2010
Too bad OCP isn't able to help you now. I'd rather see it kept in our circle.
Meanwhile did you try http://www.superiorinduction.c.....NAod53CRtg ?
Or did you see this used one at http://www.paaba.net/Saleandswap.htm ? $1,000 is cheap even if 3 phase. New they run about $5,000 with the cooler. Plus it's in Hollsopple, PA.
They're also on fleabay, but be sure you get the right size.
Randy McDaniel
http://www.drgnfly4g.com
"We do not quit playing because we grow old, we grow old because we quit playing." Oliver Wendell Holmes
5:28 pm
May 13, 2010
I was hoping to get one from Grant one day as well. You might give the Kaynes a call to see if they will be carrying the induction forges. If they are not going to be, someone on one of the forums mentioned that someone was selling them at Quad state last year.
I am sure that the Ameritherm unit is good but check what the frequency is. Lower frequency heaters will heat heavier stock more efficiently but will not heat smaller stock to a good forging temperature. My understanding is the forges Grant was selling were THEORETICALLY to high a frequency to heat smaller stock. BUT they would heat the outside of the stock and steel is a fairly good conductor of heat so that heat would quickly conduct to the center of heavier stock.
6:15 pm
June 7, 2010
Grant answered some questions on heating 2" and larger stock on a thread several years ago over at Bladesmith's Forum.
6:56 pm
May 13, 2010
8:02 pm
June 7, 2010
I've also seen similar units listed on ebay shipping direct from China and I think one seller was shipping them from Canada. I'm not sure how the quality compares to the units Grant was importing. I remeber Grant mentioning on the thread at Bladesmith's Forum that he tested and did some electrical upgrades to the machines when they came in from china.
10:07 pm
NWBA Member
July 9, 2010
Grant has a site that may answer some of your questions. Don't expect to get a response if you email him. If he does respond...you are very special.
My son is the Blacksmith
11:06 pm
May 13, 2010
11:30 pm
May 13, 2010
12:03 am
December 27, 2011
12:08 am
NWBA Member
July 9, 2010
Following is Grant's post from Forgemagic:
grant - Sat 29 Apr 2006 19:56:22 #0
induction
Well, Ries pretty well got your interest. Induction heating has been around since the 30's actually. The thing is that the smaller the work the higher the frequency has to be. Big melters and large billet heaters use line frequency of 60 cycle (60Hz if you're under age 50). For heating a 1-1/2 inch billet you need about 3KHz and for 3/4 you need 10KHz (10,000 cycle). The 10KHz 100KW system I had at my old business would heat 3/4 to 1-1/2 very quickly but couldn't get a piece of 1/2 inch bar past Curie (the non-magnetic point). The little unit that I'm importing runs 30Khz - 100Khz. These higher frequencies only generate heat on the surface of the bar, but it conducts to the center very quickly making them practical for a wider range of work.
The unit I intend to offer is 15KW, that’s about 60amps on 240 single phase. At my electric rate of 4.5 cents per kilowatt-hour that could be as much as 65 cents per hour FLAT-OUT! That’s at full output continuous – never happens. As someone mentioned you’re only drawing power when you’re heating steel. In playing with the unit at the conference we were able to heat about 3 inches of a ½ inch square bar to a good forging heat in about 15- 20 seconds and a full welding heat in 25 seconds. ¾ inch bar was only slightly slower. We did heat about 3 inches of a 1-1/2 inch square bar in about two minutes. Standing there watching it that seemed like it took forever.
Some of the advantages we came up with are obvious some not. Instant heat at the flip of a switch – no waiting for heat-up. I particularly like that when I have an idea and want to try something quick. Ability to get extremely intense short heats. As there is no heat given off except by the heated steel, you can have the coil right next to the anvil, reheat your piece without even stepping away from the anvil. As the heat is actually generated within the part there is little heating of the shop (nice in the hot summer). Oh, did I mention quiet? Yes, totally silent. Coils are easily made from ¼ inch copper tube, three or four turns around any mandrel (broom handle?) and you’re set to go. In operation there is as much as 600amps @ 20 volts going thru the coil. This induces something like half a million amps in the part. Reversing polarity up to 100,000 times per second really stirs things up. I think homebuilt was easier in the vacuum tube era. With solid state you start with an inverter then a computerized “chopper” to create the desired frequency and then a very special (for high frequency) water-cooled transformer. All that plus a control system. ‘nuff for now
My son is the Blacksmith
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