Coal stove into forge ?

[Kevin the grey]

I have what I think is a coal stove. It is a cylindrical upright shape somewhat like a potbelly wood stove except for the door to insert fuel which is smaller . The size of the door is what leads me to believe it is a coal and not a wood stove .This stove has one feature which may not make it feasible to make a forge . It has a double wall with a pipe sytem within it for heating water . There are two pipes leaving the double wall . Obviously one for cold water intake and the other for hot water . I wouldn,t want to damage these pipes by using the stove for a non-intended purpose . Can I use/modify this stove for a forge without permanently altering it or damaging the pipes ? I would only need it for smaller jobs until I can put together a more serviceable model .

 

[Fred.Rowe]

I believe there is nothing that cannot be accomplished if you have enough time and money to put into the project. I always ask myself how practical the project is, not wheather it can be done. In this instance, I would think it, not practical, to convert the little pot bellied stove to a forge. Instead I would install the stove in my shop space, use it to heat said space, pull myself up a chair and think of ways to build a small coke or coal forge. If you are looking for ideas on this subject, I would consider a search of the archives here at the B.F. site. You will find a lot of usefull information that will get you headed in the right direction. I built my coke forge for around 300 dollars.
Good luck to you, Fred

 

[Sweany]

personally i wouldn't mess with the stove, sounds like oo much work.

really nice design here
http://www.beautifuliron.com/steelhoods.htm

and some mo info

http://www.beautifuliron.com/forge_brakedrum.htm

on the now defunct keenjunk. there was forge built out of a lawnmower body.

more forge pics here
http://www.iforgeiron.com/BPindex/BPindex.shtml
and here
http://forgemagic.com/bsgview.php?cat=F

Oh yeah here the welded firepot by Bob Patrick
http://magichammer.freeservers.com/welded_fire_pots.htm

Bob really knows his stuff

 

[Kevin the grey]

The reason I asked was to keep my options open until trhe last moment for the very reason you mentioned . I don,t have much money or experience . I was hoping one of you guys had made a similar one without too much modification or outlay of cash . I also don,t have a shop to heat with it . I would be working out of some space loaned to me in someones barn . I would be forging outside until I get a semi-permanent safe shop space . I,d do it in my back yard but the neighbors sleep during the day .i have seen a couple of forge set ups that interest me and I,ll just keep my options open until then . Thanks Sweany and Fred .

 

[Sweany]

There was lady years ago that would take her small forge and anvil in the trunk of her car to a park, or something and forge there.
Froges are pretty simple to make also, I made one with a box of mud. it worked great
A smith on the old NEo-tribal forum used a Mattel (toy) leaf blower as his source of air for the forge.

air+fire+coal = heat. Just think of those three ingediants and look around.

I bet you can build a forge in one trip to walmart

 

[Kevin the grey]

air+fire+coal = heat. Just think of those three ingediants and look around.

I bet you can build a forge in one trip to walmart [/QUOTE]

REPLY:
I could build the forge but I betcha the heat would set off the sprinklers ! L:O:L

I,m gonna keep looking and keep what you pointed out in mind . The place where I can use my forge is right near a major cement maker . Do you think they would have refractory cement there or is that an aftermarket product ?