Forge and anvil

G

G.Scaffe

Joined
Dec 9, 2000
Messages
174
Good morning,
I have a budget of around $800. I have been making stock removal for years and would like to start forging. My question is what type of anvil (weight,shape,brand) and what type of gas forge (size,shape brand,burners) to buy and stay within my budget? I have built several forges in the past and they never worked well or were efficient, so that is not an option. I have serched the internet and there are many choices, and I would like to get some opinions. Thanks Gene
 
I attended a local hammer in where one seller was demonstrating his ribbon burner forge. It was @ $400 and a smith could try before buying. Of course you would have to provide your own tank and hose. The same applies to the occasional post vice, anvil, tongs, and etc.. You might be able to find a package deal. The shipping is going to be another chunk of change for heavier items like the anvil.
 
Ribbon burners are the bees knees for forge burners. Highly recommend them IF YOUR GONNA BE FORGE WELDING much as the use very little Propane for the amount of even heat they produce. If you have more time then money there are plans out there for building the ribbon burners. There is also a very good book out there that has great plans for building a small forge from a propane bottle and a very good burner. The book is called Gas Burners for Forges, Furnaces, & Kilns by Michael Porter. Im made my first forge following the plans from the book for about $100 including the regulator. It was a very fun project back then for me that for sure and would recommend it to any one starting out that has the time to build there own tools.

Brett
 
You probably can find a serviceable small anvil (75-100 pounds) for a couple hundred dollars. A forge that is going to last a long time will cost about $400-500. You can, however build a very nice forge for $100-200. You will also need a propane tank ( 100 pound tank recommended), a couple hammers, and a few sets of tongs. The hand tools will run you about $200. There are about $100 of anvil tools ( hardies, fullers, etc) that your will need.

$800 is a bit tight, but with some careful searching and building your own forge, it can be done.

Beginning hammers and tongs have been recently discussed in another thread.

Be aware that once the forging bug bites you, you can spend a lot on specialized forging tools, a wash tub of hammers and tongs, bigger anvils, power hammers, forging presses, etc.
 
I would reccomend an anvil over 100 pounds but that is not a firm bottom, you could get by with a 75 pounder if all you forge is blades. I highly reccomend the diamondback iron works two burner economy forge. I have one and forge weld all the time in it and have even melted steel when I got distracted.
 
Hi There zaph1 Can I respectfully ask you a question? Please dont take it the wrong way. LOL In your above post you make it sound as if a square forge body is superior to a round or oval shape forge body. If this is what your saying can you please tell me how a square forge body is better then round. In my experience a round or oval forges over square a body the heat will have a much better swirling / cyclone effect which greatly reduces hot spots in the forge. If you know other wise please let use know what makes it better.
As for the round forge I was referencing in the earlier post above it will easily hold a 4" billet while having two thick layers of K wool as the insulation and a coat of refectory. The exterior of the forge body is hardly gets warm to the touch the first hour of running. Like I said its a awesome forge and burner is very impressive. FYI I also use that burner for my salt pot.
To the OP you can preview the forge and burner book online. Its has great deal of info and the instructions are super easy to follow and as list of parts needed and where to get them.If follow the directions and you will have a very well running forge for very little money. Use the rest of you money for a good anvil,hammer and tongs
zaph1 said:
Here is a list of some commercially available knifemaker forges. There is no need to build your own just to get a round chamber. The first two have round chambers, but you can't fit a 4" tall billet in either of them. The Whisper has a square chamber but is highly recommended for large billets.

http://www.atlasknife.com/forge
http://www.hightemptools.com/forges.html
http://www.chileforge.com/forges_tabasco_details.html
http://usaknifemaker.com/knifemaking-forge-whisper-dual-burner.html
Click to expand...
 
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