Forge Shaped Object

Brian Kessler

Brian Kessler

Joined
Jan 10, 2017
Messages
19
This came to me in a dream, but wanted some input as to it's viability.

I have an old steel toolbox (approx 16" x 7" x 7") and some 1/2" pipe. Was thinking of drilling a hole in the side of the tool box and inserting said pipe after drilling about 6 holes in the pipe for airflow. Using refractory cement to create a slope inside the toolbox leading down to the pipe.

I would be using an old electric airbed pump for the air supply.

Would this actually work ya think? Or is it just another "pipe dream" (puns fully intended) :)

I'm not looking to make swords or anything like that, maybe some simple knives, spoons, etc, but thought the portability factor would be pretty neat.

Thanks again for all your input and look forward to future correspondence!
 
Any object that won't burn up will work as a forge shell or firepan. I have seen a few rectangular charcoal forges similar to your idea, but they were bigger. At 7" wide, it wouldn't make much of a bed of coals once the refractory was installed. There are lots of other issues with the idea, like no ash dump and no real control of the blast, but the narrow size would be the biggest issue. It would also probably be heavy.
 
Sometimes these linear forges work, you may have to play around with size of air holes relative to your air blower capacity.
In other words, seat of pants trial & error to get it working well. Consider making selectable the size of fire. Unless heat treating a long blade, you wont need a fire much over 6-7". I think you are better off with side or bottom blast single tuyere design. If charcoal fuel, you wont really need an ashdump, ash will blow out of the fire. If you burn coal, ash dump is needed, but for the most part its clinker & coal fines what get past a rocker tuyere what gets dumped.
 
Thanks for the input guys! It was just an idea i pulled outta my butt, but this is why I joined, to ask the dumb questions and get straightforward answers.

Stacy, is there a size that would be recommended for this type of setup? I have a 24" x 12" x 9" box that i kinda wanted to keep, but would be willing to sacrifice.

I suppose i could order a hand crank air supply if absolutely needed. Any recommendations? Cost is extremely prohibitive (have about 20 bucks in my wallet) but i don't want a piece of turd that breaks down a week in either.

Thanks again guys, I'm truly suprised at the wealth of knowledge available to me here.
 
Brian, you can do all sorts of things for $20, but building a good working forge isn't one of them. Even if you built it with adobe and used an old tool box, you would burn $20 in charcoal in a few forging sessions.

My suggestion for a cheap forge would be to build a "Brake Drum Forge". If you have a friend who welds, it can be cobbled together with mostly used stuff. Your mattress inflator might even work as a blower for it.
You can make your own charcoal with a 55 gallon drum and lid, or a trench pit and cover. It is lots of work and smoke, but some folks like to do it. Try some googling on these subjects.
 
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