Building a forge old style?

B

bile

Joined
Oct 10, 2002
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18
If I wanted to go totaly nuts and build a forge, how would I go about it. I'd want something foot bellows pumped and charcoal fueled.
Our area is rich in clay if you dig deep enough so would thoroughly well packed clay be a suitable choice.
I need pointers on depth of charcoal bed I should aim for, geneal size of the hearth itself etc.

I've smelted metal before - tin from cassiterite which took a good six hours of work with the bellows, and cost me the bellows ( they went up in flames ), but never attempted forging.

any pointers - other than don't do it.
Ultimately I'd love to build a bloomery - Iron ore is easy to obtain localy, but one step at a time,
Bile
 
Just a red herring for you.
I think you may be after something esle but you can forge with charcoal with a 2 inch hole for the air covered with a bit of heavy mesh or a piesce of plate steel with holes punched in it . once you have the hole with air comming out. Make a dish shape about 12 inches wide. tapper from the bottom where the air is to the outside edge about 2 inch at ceneter .
Put some paper over the hole cover with charcoal. lite it that is all you need. If you use a steel pipe from a distance that should save the bellows. That is how some idonesian villages forge damascus.
Except they use a mechanical blower these days. And they build the fire bigger. There is no need for anything else they do it on the ground. once you have the principle you can really design anything that suits you. Ie build it up to waist hight, put a hood over it, chimney foot opperated or pull down bellows etc.

However there are some good blacksmithing sites around try anvilfire they would probably have someone who could give you plans for a more perminant traditional english smith shop.

Good luck with it.
 
Cool, so for basic bladework the kiln can self draw, that's handy.
Now, I lack an anvil, I was thinking stout log with a hefty piece of steel sheet ( abut 1/4 inch or more thick ) bolted - would that suffice for simple work
that's my weekend sorted out,
Bile
 
If you intend hammering and shifting some hot metal into shape. 1/4 thich plate would tend to buckle very quickly. Your always going to be happier with a real anvil but we all start somewhere. A piece of heavy railway line can be a good start. The cuved top can be a pain.
Have a look at your local scrap metal dealer they some times have some good lumps of steel. Before you go check out the prices of anvils. Some of these guys see us comming and want top dollar for off cuts. The local dealer here sells about $1 per kilo any size or shape he has. (33 pence or 54us cents)
 
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