Subject: Re:Solar Powered Forges, and on

From: [email-masked] (Katana ---/-----------)
Date: Thu, 5 Sep 1996 13:57:44 GMT

>Does any one out there have plans for a solar powered forge? 
> 
>Hochewa 
 
Try Edmund Scientific. They sell solar cookers, and I think they have plans
if you want to up-scale one of them. It would be a nice idea if you live in
Arizona with plenty of sun, and didn't care about working on cloudy days.
Someone in the Seattle, WA. would have a tough time if they wanted to work
on a couldy day, though. Now, we could discuss cold fusion forges, or even
tokamac hot fusion reacotrs to power a forge. They're not here yet, but if
we discuss it, we will set the stage for blacksmiths of a hundred years
from now. 
-- 
               Bill Wyant 
   Bladesmith / Art Blacksmith 
Avalon Ironworks, Ft. Wayne, IN 
    [email-masked]

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From: Tom Vincent <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 8 Sep 1996 09:48:01 -0500 (CDT)

We have off and on been tinkering with a set up that uses fresnel lenses, 
at one time also available from Edmund. They used to sell one that 
reaches 3000 F at the focal point, we have had only middling success so 
far, but then we haven't really worked to hard. If you try it be sure and 
have glass in excess of #14 in your welding goggles, that focal oint is 
fierce. Tom

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From: Ralph Snel <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 09 Sep 1996 10:39:49 METDST

> > >Does any one out there have plans for a solar powered forge? 

The problem is to get enough power. One square meter will get you about
one kilowatt at best (that will just about run a big hairdryer).
Heating tiny things might work though.

Ralph
[email-masked]