Here is How I'm Building a Mini Forge

strahd71

strahd71

Joined
Jan 26, 2006
Messages
784
I got a 2'' by 8'' galvanized pipe threaded on each side. i bought a cap for one end. i also bought a benzo jht7 and a connecting hose to go from that to a regular size propane tank. i also bought two tubs of refractory cement.

so i got my hole drilled

and tonight i will put in the cement and cure in the oven

and hook up my jht7.

i got some fire bricks for it all to sit on.

any helpful ideas or thoughts?

oh and before you start bustin my chops about not using ceramic blanket. i know its best but i'm just messin around to get my feet wet and will buy a forge eventually.

jake
 
I'm going to bust your chops about using galvanized metal. I'm not sure if the shell will get hot enough for the zinc to gas off but NEVER NEVER NEVER get galvinized metal hot enough for the zinc to gass off or YOU WILL DIE!
 
Let me get this straight? You are puting the refractory on the outside of the pipe?
If so, that is a bad idea.
Stacy
 
If you want to build a mini forge on a budget, you can do so by using a coffee can. Do a search in Google, there are several tutorials. All you'll need is about $5-10 worth of ceramic wool from a fireplace installation company. They sell it by the foot. You'll need enough to get about 2" of wool wrapped around the inside of the coffee can. Then coat it with watered down furnace cement. You can either cut the end off, or stack some wool in the bottom. I would go for open back.

Take that galvanized pipe and use it for something else in your shop. {You'll probably get several responses saying to not use it.}
 
i am putting the refractory cement on the inside. thinking that it should keep the zinc from killing me.

as to the ceramic blanket i went to the little place around here and they didnt even have the cement nor the insulation. i had to get the cement at tractor supply. i actually have a weekend off and this is what i was able to get locally. i am pretty limited where i live.

jake
 
oh and i did try to find a pipe in something besides galvanized cause i had seen something about it before on here. again i am area where there isnt much besides a walmart and poor true value.

jake
 
coffeecan as mentioneed before,black stovepipe lenghth form your true value
should cost about $6.00, i even seen one with a chiken wire frame rolled up
all it would need to be is rigid enough to support the wool- too many options
to risk galvenized bb
 
ok well want to do something this weekend. so what if i took a soup can and spread the refractory cement inside for insulation to just play around would that work for the weekend until i can figure something else out?
 
A normal soup can makes for a pretty small forge. By the time you get some type of refractory cement in it, you'll have a forge thats so small you cant do anything with it. I would suggest you spend the weekend searching "coffee can forge" on the internet and I think you will find it to be time well spent. A coffee can is about the smallest I would think is practical. I hope you realize you need more refractory on the inside of the can than just a thin coating like paint.

Here are a few links for you to get you started on the research:

http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=site:bladeforums.com+coffee+can+forge&btnG=Search&meta=

http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=site:bladeforums.com+one+brick+forge&btnG=Search&meta=

Happy forge building!

Brad
www.AndersonKnives.ca
 
its a big soup can and i will have probably a 1/2 in of refractory cement in it when i am done

which will give me quite a bit of room and besides i dont have a real burner just the jht7 so i cant have it too big
 
I'm going the no-frills route; two carved out firebricks lined with refractory cement. If you already have the bricks and cement you could throw this together pretty quickly.

Michael

forge1.jpg
 
strahd71 said:
its a big soup can and i will have probably a 1/2 in of refractory cement in it when i am done

which will give me quite a bit of room and besides i dont have a real burner just the jht7 so i cant have it too big
Click to expand...

I think you need to rethink your forge ideas. If you can't do it correctly/safetly I wouldn't do it. I do not think a soup can will cut it. The two fire brick idea ( and pictured) will work and for very little $$.
 
Sounds like you are good to go then strahd71. only other tip I have for you is to let the refractory dry before you fire it up or it will crack. Let us know how you make out.

Looks like a nice little forge mpphoto :thumbup:

Brad
www.AndersonKnives.ca
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top