Dumb Question??

D

dpusser

Joined
Sep 15, 2006
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I am looking to make my own charcoal ground forge, I have all the hardware but do not have access to the materials to make the adobe to line the forge. Can I use quickcrete? I know if it has air bubbles then my lifespan will shorten greatly but if I use the mortar mix with no rocks in it and pour slowly could it work? I wish I had the resources to use that fancy fireplace cement but I dont have the money. Anyonr have any ideas for the newbie?
 
Not to promote any particular brand but I have used plain old yellow bag of Tidy cat kitty litter it is a clay, not the clumping type. I have used it for clay tempering my blades it is cheap and repairable. Just add waster and mix until you get the paste consistency you want and once formed cover with a damp cloth and allow the dry slowly the same way you would concrete that you want to cure very tough. Take a look at this site omit the tub and do it in the ground instead
http://64.176.180.203/washtubforge.htm. As a living historian I have done a great deal of demonstration forging in ground trinch forges and belows, I used no lining at all the earth is a good enough insulator on it's own. Hope this helps if you have any questions feel free to PM me.

Jim
 
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The lifespan isn't what to worry about when it comes to air in concrete, it's steam pockets causing explosions. Some things just aren't worth doing unless you can afford the right stuff.
 
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Don't use concrete or cement; trapped water can cause steam explosions and at the temperatures a charcoal forge can produce it will quickly deteriorate. You can make a decent side blast forge using a few firebricks and a piece of pipe.

Fill out your profile, if we knew where you lived there might be a smith within 10 minutes of you.
 
You can make a good adobe with kitty litter and plain old field clay ( the stuff you dug up and played with as a kid). Mix it up to a thick gloop ,shovel into the hole, shape, set in the air pipe, smooth up the adobe and let dry. Make a small fire to start and let it cure a bit before running it as a forge.

Stacy
 
Do not use quickcrete/concrete. You can go to a stream bed and dig out clay or you can use dirt mixed with wood ash. My dad uses a charcoal forge for blacksmithing and he uses just plain old clay mixed with wood ash and it works fine. When it falls apart he just fixes it or starts over. Really doesn't matter considering the price.
PS not sure why he adds the wood ash but I will ask him tonight and update you. I just know it works. Maybe it is added insulation. Not sure. Anyone else know?
 
There are plenty of refractory cement recipes on the net for various purposes; for what you're doing Portland cement, Fireclay and Sand is probably what you want. You might find fireclay at ceramics/pottery supply stores or find an excavation where you can see gray clay and that is the same stuff. If you wanted insulating, you would add perlite.
 
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