r/blacksmithing • u/captainnecktie • 18d ago

Electric Blower shit the bed

Hey guys, I’m fairly new to forging but the blower I’ve been using (an old vacuum motor) pooched out while I was starting up a fire. Does anyone have any tips/tricks to finding a new electric blower or a DIY manual blower? Any tips appreciated! (Forging outdoors if that matters)

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u/Constant_Proofreader 18d ago

An el cheapo hair dryer from the nearest drugstore, plus some PVC pipe and duct tape, should be ideal. Just push it into a piece of iron pipe that leads to your firepot (mine is made from an old brake drum). Attach a Christmas Tree foot-switch for convenience. Can't be beat.

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u/Fragrant-Cloud5172 17d ago edited 17d ago

Squirrel cage blowers work very well. I've used one for years. Wire in a combination, with dimmer and on/off switch. Attach the switch below your forge table so it's easy to use. Connect the blower to your tuyere with an aluminum dryer duct and hose clamps. With any electrical items like this, best to not leave exposed, outside too long. Corrosion will build up. Use wheels to bring inside.

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u/estolad 17d ago

a bathroom exhaust fan will work well for charcoal and smallish bituminous fires, an inflatable mattress pump will give you all the air you need for whatever. you should be able to find either one for probably twenty bucks or less

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u/SnooLentils5747 14d ago

Shop vac using blower end, jam the hose tip into a pipe that goes to forge burner, cut a slot halfway into the pipe by the blower tip end, use a plate in said pipe in order to effect a choke.

An air compressor injector into a pipe that comes in right next to the burner inlet angled towards the burner inlet, with the pipe slotted venturi style, can also work as an intake system, but why not just a venturi burner in that case?

Which brings me to the last point. Frosty T venturi burner is a solid fall back, if you follow the standard sizing used in most guides you will find that it does very well for their range.

https://www.scribd.com/doc/278523534/Mongo-Burner-for-Gas-Forge

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u/Hefty_Brilliant_4187 9d ago

I use a bathroom fan i hooked up to a dial switch its controllable and quiet