My forge blower died mid-heat on saturday

I was getting a billet ready for a damascus twist and about 20 mins in the blower just quit. No warning, no weird noise, just stopped moving air. I spent 45 mins trying to fix it but the motor was totally seized up. Ended up having to finish the heat with a hand crank blower I borrowed from my buddy. Anyone else keep a backup blower around or just me?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_lucas1mo ago

webb.ben I remember reading somewhere that a lot of old school smiths would never fully trust electric blowers for exactly this reason. They always kept a hand crank or bellows within arm's reach. Seems like you found that out the hard way too. I've got a little battery powered camping fan rigged up under my forge now just as a backup after my blower started making a grinding noise last month.

webb.ben1mo ago

Man I feel your pain. I swapped to a hand crank after my electric blower died mid weld on a billet and honestly I keep it stashed under the forge table now just in case.