Any reason this wouldn't make a decent forge body?

T

Travis Fry

Joined
Jun 11, 2010
Messages
489
It's a bit lightweight, but with a 2inch layer of kaowool, ITC-100, etc, and some slight mods for tool rests and whatnot, can anyone think of a reason this wouldn't work for a vertical forced air forge?

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It's a Christmas popcorn tin, maybe 14-16 inches tall and about 12 wide.
 
Travis-

The overall size is good, but the sheet metal body is a killer for me. The insulation does keep the heat inside (for the most part) but the heat will spread, especially as the insulation wears/breaks down. That's not too much of a concern...

The reason I wouldn't want to use it, is it's not a good platform to weld things to, like a shelf at the door, inlet for the burner, etc. Personally, I prefer something at least 1/8" thick because of that.
 
Nick, your 2nd point is a concern of mine as well. These things are easy to come by this time of year, so it's worth consideration.
 
Hey, it's worth a shot Travis.

BBQ tank would be a big improvement IMHO... just be prepared for some nasty ass stank when you open it up. :barf: LOL

It seems with all the meth addicts scrounging for scrap, it's getting harder and harder to find suitable and cheap steel.
 
NickWheeler said:
Hey, it's worth a shot Travis.

BBQ tank would be a big improvement IMHO... just be prepared for some nasty ass stank when you open it up. :barf: LOL

It seems with all the meth addicts scrounging for scrap, it's getting harder and harder to find suitable and cheap steel.
Click to expand...

I just go down to the scrap yard, and find the stuff the addicts drop off....one stop shopping. ha ha!
 
Travis
Just let me know what size of pipe you want for your forge. I'm sure I can round some up from the fab shop.
Jim
 
8-10 in would be fine, or a bit larger. Maybe up to 12. Not smaller though. I'd like to build a forge mostly for bladesmithing, and if I could weld occasionally thatd be good too. I have no press or Power hammer, and I doubt I'll be reducing billets by hand any time soon. I've kinda gotten addicted to forging in the short time I've been doing it, and I'd not like to give it up when i move back to Texas. When the time comes for a lot of damascus making I'll build a forge for that.
 
NickWheeler said:
Hey, it's worth a shot Travis.

BBQ tank would be a big improvement IMHO... just be prepared for some nasty ass stank when you open it up. :barf: LOL

It seems with all the meth addicts scrounging for scrap, it's getting harder and harder to find suitable and cheap steel.
Click to expand...


I took a hiatus from personal fab projects for a while, and it was a rude awakening recently when I realized that not only was all the scrap taken up by local druggies, steel yard prices had skyrocketed. All of a sudden the pile of "junk" steel in my parents barn started looking REALLY attractive. :)

It cost me almost $100 just in steel to build a stand for my mini-mill, and that was buying from the rems pile. It would have been a $20 in materials job when I first started, now it's like $200.
 
Travis

I have used scrap refrigerant cylinders. I am in the trade and asked one of our suppliers for a cylinder that was going for disposal (outdated). They are generally a smaller diameter and about the same length as a propane tank without the possibility of explosion.
 
Bowman,

My membership level does not support PM (i'll upgrade eventually), but you can reach me at trvs dot fry at gmail dot com or 403- four seven one 9636. I live in Wildwood and work near Eau Claire. We should get together, even if it isnt to work on forges.
 
Find out if it is aluminum based or iron. Hold a propane torch over one spot until it turns red for a few seconds... if it readily melts, I wouldn't use it.
 
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