Forge options.

First one will work. Second one is a bad choice.

I would look at the Atlas Graham forge.
 
Knifemaking and heat treating, I don't think you can beat the Atlas Mini for most knives. The Graham better for bowies, axes, etc., but the mini reaches higher temps and uses less propane with a smaller chamber.
atlas_stainless_mini_forge_july2018-600px.jpg
 
look for used pottery kiln. for $350 you can find a bunch of options and all you have to do is plug it in.
 
Where do you live? Building a forge is good practice and will help you rebuild it later on (and understand all the critical bits). Maybe a local blacksmith's guild or a forum member can help you construct one.
 
Depending on what you plan on doing it would be hard to make something better or mor costs effective than the Atlas. I love mine.
 
I own probably 10 forges (and several more in the build process). One is an Atlas Graham, and I had an Atlas mini that I passed to my son-in-law.
Both are excellent.

If I had to buy a commercial forge tomorrow, I would buy an Atlas Graham.

The best full shop use forge, IMHO, is the NC Tool Co Whisper Lowboy or the Whisper Knifemaker. These aren't as cheap as an Atlas, but will run day-in and day-out for 20-30 years with no sign of trouble. The side door allows odd shaped and large objects to be forged. With all the forges I have, I use the whisper low-boy 99% of the time.

If Charles at Atlas ever builds a forge with a side door he may need to buy a warehouse to build and deliver all the orders ( just a hint ;) ).
 
Yes, Stacy, hint taken long ago. But as you know, I'm a small shop and the Minis keep me busy. I'm getting closer, having just finalized my first dual burner design, which brings the current number of forges to 3½. The Graham is still prototype, just a couple things I'm not happy with. Square chamber whisper style is in the works and may be finished before I ever get the Graham design where I want it.

Oh, and I'm working on a small knifemaker anvil. Probably a 65# hornless designed for knifemakers to start with. Should have first designs soon.
 
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