Electric Forge?

[jdlange]

Howdy all,

Question, I have seen refernce in a number of articles to an electric forge. I have never seen one and can find no information on such a thing. The reason I am interested is that I have access to 2 large modular ceramic kilns that are rated to go up to 2400 degress or so and what I am thinking of doing is this.

I want to take a single unit from one of these kilns (one section of the stack), cut more grooves in the inside on the refractory and install another set of heating coils from one of the other sections in order to double the number inside that one section and then just use that one section as a small heating compartment (covered on top and bottom with the kiln lid and base). I think this will provide enough heat to get steel up to forging temp within a reasonable amount of time (provided the whole thing is preheated of course). It would also provide me with a more accurate way of judging temp etc as the kiln temp gauges are made pretty well.

Anyone else ever heard of anyone doing this? Or know of a company that manufactures an electric forge that I might investigate for reference?

[jdlange]

I also talked to a fellow at a show who said he used one of these to heat his salt tanks. Anyone know about this? If I cant use it for my original idea that would work out pretty well too.

[Geno]

Hey JD,
The elements would probably work fine for the salts, but the furnace would eat the elements because of flux.
They had a thead about making a salt bath in the outpost, you might run a search there for more info on how to do it.

[jdlange]

The flux would be little of an issue as I would only be using this to forge stock steel and not weld, I am working my way up to pattern welding but I'm not there yet. I have been doing some test work in a coal forge and am happy with the results so far but have yet to make anything that I would make into a knife.
Would there be any complications from just forging bar and flat stock using this sort of setup? Thanks Geno

Josh

[Geno]

Flux is a part of forging.
Flux helps clean the scale that developes during the cooling phase. You will need it.
It might be good for H/T(with proper control), but I don't think you will be happy trying to forge with it.

[jdlange]

Gotcha,

As far as using this setup to heat salt tanks...I will dig around on the outpost and see if I can find that thread you were speaking of.

Thanks Geno