A.W.Stovall
Well-Known Member
for a small forge?
I'm gona say something here that I know will not be very popular......
Don't use a shade pole (squirrel cage) blower on a forge.
It will work for a while, but a shaded pole motor is not designed to work with ANY back pressure, and the motor winding will quickly overheat and the blower will burn out in a forge application. I used them myself for a number of years....and had to replace a blower roughly ever other month. I just thought that was the way things were, until I started asking my local motor repair folks about it, and learned more about those types of blowers. Most of them are designed to work with zero back pressure, and as back pressure is applied, their capacity to push air decreases, all the while heating up the windings until a "burn out" occurs.
I suspect that some folks out there are using them and quite happy with them...but it's all going to depend on how much you run the forge. A shaded pole MIGHT last someone who doesn't run their forge very often or for long durations, but anything more than a few hours a week, and a shaded pole will soon be scrap metal.
For the last several years I have been using blowers that are actually designed for forge use, and have not had a moments trouble from them. (When I run my forges, it's usually an all day long affair) Here's a link to the blowers that I would recommend: http://www.blacksmithsdepot.com/Templates/cart_templates/cart_browse.php?theLocation=/Resources/Products/Forges_and_Parts/blowers
I have two of the 164 CFM models. I have to run it about 1/2 speed on my welding forge....so the 112 CFM might work well depending on the size of your forge.