Do I need one forge or three?

[Augus7us]

Afternoon Gents,

All these forge build threads have got me planning my first propane forge. I like my coal but it just doesn't cut it sometimes and I am a man that likes choices.

Here is what I want to accomplish:

General Blacksmithing - S hooks, tongs, knives, etc
Forge Welding - Damascus Billets
Bladesmithing - Swords

Mainly I would like to know if one forge can efficiently do all three or will I need two or three different forges to accomplish this. The one that really gets me is swords, I think that will take a good 40+" forge and that seems like a very inefficient forge to use for making a knife or shovel head. Thought I have seen Walter Sorrels use a small forge for sword making and just moving it in and out manually to heat the whole blade. I can't imagine that is the best way to do it so I'm looking for some opinions from the pros.

As always thanks for the help and advice you all so freely give!

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Welding damascus is easier in a dedicated vertical welding forge.

A general use forge with a 5"X3" front port is nice to use when you will be doing blacksmithing as well as knife making. Use fire bricks to make the front port wider or narrower as needed. Have a 3"X3" back port for long blades like swords. The back port can be blocked by a fire brick when not needed. A 16" blown burner forge will do almost any project...even a 36" sword. It can do damascus when you only do it occasionally.