The original blower in use, the fan spins one way and then the other instead of continuously in one direction
The string mechanism allows for a high rpm but not continuous rotation
Cutting a rotor for the new fan
Rotor cut to 75 cm long and debarked
Cutting cane for the fan spokes
Fan spokes 50 cm
Splitting the spokes
Lashing spokes to the rotor with cordage
There are 3 pairs of spokes which will hold 6 blades
The blades are folded leaf squares inserted into the spokes
A log is split and lashed at one end
The rotor is wedged into the split
A nut shell
It is added to the top of the rotor as a socket
The rotor is spun with the log acting as a counter weight
Wetting the socket helps the rotor spin better
Making mud for the fan housing
The stick that scribes the housing is marked with 4 points past the half way point
4 points are marked in a cross, each one moving down the marks on the stick
The points are then connected to form an increasing spiral or volute
Mud is now added to form the walls of the housing
The finished fan housing walls
The fan must always spin anti clockwise in this housing for it to work
Covering the housing with wood as a roof
Plastering roof with mud
Shaping the air entry
Finding where the air entry/ lid boundary is
Making the lid
Taking off lid and inserting fan
The fan is folded flat to fit in the opening
Once inside, the fan can be folded into its original shape
The fan blows wind over the grass a few meters away
Making fire
Blowing the tinder into flame with the blower
Testing on the fire
Making a tuyere or clay air pipe for the fire
Fire drying the tuyere
Installing the tuyere
View from inside the blower
Making a furnace 20 cm in diameter
20 cm internal diameter, 50 cm tall
Roasting ore and making charcoal in the same process
Taking out the roasted ore
Taking out the charcoal
1 hour preheat with wood
Filling with charcoal
1 handful of ore
3 double handfuls of charcoal
one handful of ore
Same again
This new method is really unergonomic after a while and it takes longer to consume each charge than the original blower
I only did 3 charges because it was tiring and it took about the same time as a 6 charge smelt with the original blower
The bloom formed under the tuyere
Only tiny iron prills formed in the slag, smaller than usual (pause video and look for silver specks)
Volute shaped blower