Forge in progress

J

jtwodogs

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Feb 1, 2009
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My homemade forge in progress, with 4 pieces of osage orange I cut out today from a log that has been curing 20 years.

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OK,...... you might want to rethink that a bit. Can you elaborate on your plans?

And before anyone says, "That galvanized pipe will kill you!", ....it won't. But it should be black iron pipe.
 
So many things wrong, I don't know where to start. It it a propane forge? If so, where's the burner? Bottom insulation? Top insulation?
 
wood/coal forge. The pipe won't be in the fire, just a place to put my blow dryer to force air into the bottom.
This is definitely not a high tech nor high price forge. When I see guys forge knives in a dug out ditch and an air source, I figured this would work.
 
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Are my eyes playing tricks on me, or did your forge bottom have a former life as a target/backstop??? :D


It's true that some of the neo-tribal guys knock out some great stuff with a pit and a hair-dryer... But you've got access to a bunch of guys here that can help you build a quality, efficient forge... :)
 
Yep .223 put the holes in the bottom piece. It is removable and sits about 3 inches off the bottom via post in the corners.
 
Dude, you're right....javand!!!! We have a new way of drilling holes in hardened steel!!!! It's a new drill bit called 55 grain FMJ!!!!
 
Just wait till we start getting questions about how pin stock isn't matching slug holes. ;p
 
Fuel: coal or wood, or charcoal, not sure. Air source is the pipe in the back it is connected directly to the bottom where there is about 3 inches of space between bottom and plate with holes. Going to use a blow dryer in the back.
 
While what you have would be better than a BBQ grill for a forge, it would work lot better if arranged right.
What you will get with that setup is a pile of some burning stuff with a lot of air blowing through it. The fuel will get hot....and it will quickly consume itself.
Search some photos and diagrams of a coal forge and see how one works. The air supply is relegated to a single spot, and the fuel is fed into that spot.
 
I see your point, back to the drawing board. Think I can fix the problem by welding the random holes up, and going up the middle with a straight line of holes that will leave room on both sides for the fuel to be fed into the middle, similar to a burner with a straight line of holes. Seal the bottom in (Underneath the plate) with blue clay everywhere except the air source and the straight line of holes
 
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I wouldn't worry about welding up the extra holes. Just drill a bunch more making a 3" cluster in the center. I would then mix up a batch of fire clay and cover the bottom, shaping the area around the 3" cluster of holes into the "fire hole". You will need some way to clean out the area under the grate, because ash will fill it up. There are other issues, but these are the worst.
Look at some of these forge photos and you will see what I mean.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coal-forge-diagram.svg
http://www.artistblacksmith.com/articles/coal_forge_plans.htm
http://www.anvilfire.com/FAQs/the_forge_2.php
 
There's a good number of folks using Tim Lively-style forges for making knives.





You can close off some of the air holes with a dollop of the adobe the sides are lines with when you're forging and don't need to heat the whole blade, or use the full length of the forge when heat treating. He choked it down to just two open holes for a tiny fire when forging an arrowhead.

It's built to be used with lump charcoal (avoid briquettes). It wouldn't be too hard to take what you currently have and convert it.
 
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