Hello folks. The $78 blower on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071NQDNRK and a speed control from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TDHWHYL have been questioned as to quality and suitability. Well, I ordered both and played with them a tad this morning. Here is a "quick 'n dirty" setup I did to see if they work at all. The forge is an old freon bottle setup for a single venturi burner. It works pretty good, I've made several San Mai and one Damascus billet with using this forge.
The blower is a cast aluminum housing and seems ok and moves a good bit of air. I think I'm happy with the blower. How much air is moving? It's rated at 125 CFM, and it does move a good bit more air than an 85 SFM blower I've got.
The speed control is another matter. I was hoping it would control blower from low speed to high speed like a variable speed drill motor is controlled, and it does - sorta. This speed control seems to be the same as the one sold in a variable speed blower setup on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C935P3C/ The problem with this speed controller seems to be designed for a brush type motor while the blower motor is described as a "capacitor start motor" in the Operational Manual that came with the blower. The controller instructions say not to use below 50%, and that's about it. It does help drop fan speed some, but not the full speed range I was expecting compared to a variable speed drill. Examination of blower confirms this does not seem to have brushes, can't see the capacitor but it could well be hidden inside the housing.
All in all I think the blower is a good purchase, providing it holds up long term. The speed control I'm not as sure about. The adjustment on the air inlet might be all that's needed - not sure. I didn't get a chance to run forge much, just a few minutes as it was starting to rain and had to get stuff inside.
The blower is a cast aluminum housing and seems ok and moves a good bit of air. I think I'm happy with the blower. How much air is moving? It's rated at 125 CFM, and it does move a good bit more air than an 85 SFM blower I've got.
The speed control is another matter. I was hoping it would control blower from low speed to high speed like a variable speed drill motor is controlled, and it does - sorta. This speed control seems to be the same as the one sold in a variable speed blower setup on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C935P3C/ The problem with this speed controller seems to be designed for a brush type motor while the blower motor is described as a "capacitor start motor" in the Operational Manual that came with the blower. The controller instructions say not to use below 50%, and that's about it. It does help drop fan speed some, but not the full speed range I was expecting compared to a variable speed drill. Examination of blower confirms this does not seem to have brushes, can't see the capacitor but it could well be hidden inside the housing.
All in all I think the blower is a good purchase, providing it holds up long term. The speed control I'm not as sure about. The adjustment on the air inlet might be all that's needed - not sure. I didn't get a chance to run forge much, just a few minutes as it was starting to rain and had to get stuff inside.
