Variable Speed AC Motor or Blower - For Forge

[crash325]

I would like to hook up a blower to my old forge. It has to be variable Speed. Many years ago used an old vacuum cleaner and a variable resistor.
Any of you folks got a good idea???

 

[Stimw]

Small motors with brushes can be controled with light dimmers.
You could also use a regular speed motor and have a waste gate to control flow.

 

[Ken]

I would like to hook up a blower to my old forge. It has to be variable Speed. Many years ago used an old vacuum cleaner and a variable resistor.
Any of you folks got a good idea???

Jim the blower fan for older before A/C type fan in cars low med and high also the cage to force air into a pipe.
12 vote d.c.
Weather report says it is cool in your area tonight.
ken

 

[crash325]

Jim the blower fan for older before A/C type fan in cars low med and high also the cage to force air into a pipe.
12 vote d.c.
Weather report says it is cool in your area tonight.
ken

Hi Ken,
Yep we got some Hard Freeze's on the way. Not my cup of tea.
I don't think small fan type of motors have enough power to force air through the coals.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

I've had good luck with the blowers designed for forges. My coke forge is set up with a single turn off to full blast control, love it.

 

[DJ54]

I use a 140 CFM squirrel cage blower on mine. I regulate it with an adjustable waste gate on the bottom of the forge itself, as mentioned above, and let it blow out the bottom. But I would think, also as mentioned above, a light dimmer on that little 140 CFM blower like I have would work well.

I first used an old shop vac for a blower, but after a couple hours of listening to that whine, what I paid for the blower was worth the peace and quiet..!!

 

[Mendonsy]

You can easily regulate the output of a blower by adjusting the amount of inlet air. Just attach an adjustable damper to the inlet side and set it to get the airflow you want.
Almost all large blowers are started with the inlet air shut completely off then adjusted to get the proper pressure and flow once the motor is up to speed.