Recommendation? Building a forge using old cast iron stove.

[fixin2fixit]

So, it's just been a thought banging around in my head that I could possibly use an old upright wood stove that will probably never be used to heat my shop because of it's inefficiency. (It was left by the previous owner of the little homestead we bought.)
Using the top or middle section as a forge for knife making, that's maybe not out of the question? I have never made a knife yet but have collected many items ( Anvil, Vice, Hammers, RR spikes and many other usable hunks of steel) for when I start in a few months. I retired and moved to a very rural area recently and just have to organize my new 30x30 shop so there is an area for this new hobby.
Anyway, would anyone like to speculate about whether it could work?
Positives? Negatives?
Am I brilliant?
Am I an idiot?
Thanks in advance.
KRL

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

You can repropose an old woodstove as a coal forge by cutting out the top and adding a firepan. It will take a bit of welding, but will work.

I saw one where they took a cabin stove and put a big pipe in the firebox. They then made a standard gas forge in the pipe with refractory wool and satanite. The forge vented up the stovepipe. I assume they use refractory on the back to insulate it and redirect the blast up the stovepipe.
When they closed the door it looked pretty much like any old woodstove.