Hi anons, I want to get into blacksmithing. Well, just try it out at least. I've already made a mini forge in the garden, but I don't know what to replace the bellows with. I tried a hair dryer, but you can't use it for long. So I thought, what if I use computer fans? Put a cone on the side where the blower is and a half-meter pipe to the cone and run it all to the forge. The only problem is how to power it.

I feel like a pc fan wont move enough air.

>>2915817
But what if I buy high speed fans? And there is no need for a large air flow, the main thing is that it does not allow the coals to cool down

>>2915810 (OP)
Get a leaf blower. An electric wired one specifically

>>2915810 (OP)
I found a blow dryer at goodwill and used steel pipe sections to duct it into my "forge". I haven't used it yet but I think it'll work.

>>2915810 (OP)
The amateur blacksmiths I know modified vacuum cleaners to serve as bellows.

>>2915810 (OP)
>I tried a hair dryer, but you can't use it for long.
Cut the heating element

PC fans can be powered with any 12V power supply or battery; you probably have at least one 12v DC supply hanging around from an old router or something. Problem is, they don't move much air and that's without backpressure. If you can find some blower-style fans out of older 1U servers those would be better, but you're still better off disconnecting the heating element in your hair dryer or getting a corded leaf blower like others have said. I've found corded blowers in the trash before just because everyone wants a battery powered one.

>>2915810 (OP)
If you’re broke a supercharger or a turbot charger out of a junk yard will work

>>2916089
A bounce house blower or vacuum cleaner makes much more sense than finding a way to drive a loose turbo fast enough while keeping it lubricated.

>>2915971
this, the exhaust side of the vaccuum specifically

>>2915810 (OP)
I’m struggling with the same thing. Can I see your setup? How did you attach the hairdryer?

What are you using for an anvil? Do you have an anvil?

>>2915860
They are quite expensive and I think they would put too much air into the forge.
>>2916000
Oh, never thought about that, ok I will try it.
>>2916335
>Can I see your setup? How did you attach the hairdryer?
Picrel, I used a metal pipe that was exactly the same diameter as the hair dryer.

>What are you using for an anvil? Do you have an anvil?
I use a vise with a small protrusion as an anvil.

>>2916108
You just run a pipe straight from the cold side to the hot side and plumb a propane bottle into the crossover pipe. If that doesn't get you enough speed, turn the propane bottle upside down.

>>2915971
You don't even have to mod the vacuum. Just switch a shop vac from suck to blow and stick a short length of black iron pipe on the end of the hose.

Probably not strong enough. I recommend a cheap AC mattress inflator. Pic related is my setup from before I had to dismantle it and move house.

I just clamped a vinyl tube over the outlet of the inflator and had it feed into a reducer for some 50mm metal piping. Added an inline quarter turn valve to adjust the airflow and put a threaded cap on the bottom so I could clean it out after each use.

>>2915810 (OP)
Get a hair dryer that has a setting to blow cold air, those can blow pretty much indefinitely because there's no overheating involved. Also connect the hair dryer to a tube so that it's far enough away from the fire to prevent heat damage to it.