Forge style recommendations please...

Rick Baum · Oct 10, 2003

Hello everyone. I just came across a 3 foot piece of 1 foot diameter steel pipe. Upon first seeing it all lonely out in some guy's field, I just knew it needed to become a forge. I currently use a small venturi "Dragon's Breath Forge" made out of 6" pipe. It's only a little over a foot long and has it's limitations as far as heat it can generate and the length of blade that I can fit into it. I am wondering if I should make a vertical style forge or another horizontal model. Also, I'm leaning toward something with a blower on this larger one.

What would you all recommend I make based on your experiences? So far I have limited myself to non-damascus blades, but I'm sure that will change over time.

Thanks,
Rick

simmonsk · Oct 10, 2003

Hi,
Cut the pipe in half, make 2 vertical forges, sell one, and you have a free forge. Verticals seem to be a little easier to build and they are especially durable if doing a lot of forge welding.
Blowers are cheap and the burners cost only a few dollars to make.
Have a blast(Pun intended)...Ken

Bruce Bump · Oct 10, 2003

Im building a vertical at the momment. They work really well and flux just drips to the forge floor. I would cut the pipe up and add flat sides so it is oval shaped.

Rick Baum · Oct 12, 2003

Thanks for the ideas guys. I'm not too familiar with the specifics of vertical forges, so I have a few questions.

Bruce, You mentioned that you would create an oval shaped vertical. Would the oval shape affect the forges ability to heat evenly? Would it distribute the heat more evenly? Is the oval shape to get more depth to the forge therebye making it easier to heat a longer blade?

I always imagined a vertical forge as having no floor. I figured that flux could just drop out the bottom into a catch pan of sorts. Do you know of a good site to check out the proper construction of a vertical?

Sorry for the late reply. I've been out of town trying to buy a 206 lb. Peter Wright anvil (with no luck) and just got back to the forum. I got to see some new country though.

Thanks again guys,
Rick

Bruce Bump · Oct 12, 2003

Hi Rick, Mine is a 14" pipe and Im leaving it round. The oval will give the benefits of both styles of forges. The length of a horizontal with the even heat of a vertical. The floor in mine will be steel with a thick layer of kitty litter. It has a removable steel lid so I can reline the walls or change the kitty litter. I dont think the floor needs to be much but Id rather have one to help control the air flow and maintain a constant temperature. I found a thermocouple and pyrometer on Ebay. I plan to mostly use it for canister damascus and heat-treating.

Be sure to put a front opening and a back opening for long bars of steel.

B . Buxton · Oct 12, 2003

I've built 2 vertical forges, 1 useing 12" pipe, the last 1 useing 16" pipe. I took the 16" pipe and flattened it, making it oval. After lining with 2" kaowool my inside chamber is about 14" x 8". Makes for a long enough chamber on bigger billets, ( for what I do anyway). Gives great even heat from opening to opening. I lined the bottom with kaowool,cut 1" firebrick to lay over that and then applied about 1/2" of kitty litter to absorb the flux. I've welded quite a bit in it and it's showing some wear from bubbling flux but it still comes to welding heat in about 15 minutes. I've had both horrizontal and vertical, and I like the vertical the best, just takes a little getting used to.

Have fun,

Bill

Rick Baum · Oct 12, 2003

Thanks for the info guys.

Just curious on a couple more things though...

How many burners would I need? Is a blower necessary in a vertical? And last but not least, How far down from the top of the forge should the openings be?

Bill... How did you flatten your 16" pipe. Did you heat it with a torch and hammer it?

Rick

B . Buxton · Oct 12, 2003

Rick, here's a picture of the first vertical I made useing 12" pipe. When I made the bigger one with the 16" pipe I used a 4 ton hydraulic jack, I placed it inside the pipe about center, cranked up the pressure and hit the outside with a 12# sledge. After about 4 sessions I had it the shape I wanted. The 16" pipe was 1/4" wall, and I was going to flatten it with a fork lift but was afraid I might squish it to much. I use this same burner in the bigger forge, heats great.

Good luck,

Bill