Making a forge

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nitsuj

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Feb 9, 2008
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So, is there a generally accepted "best" method for making a simple heat treating forge? I've seen some "One Brick" plans, but I'm looking to make something a little more permanent. It will be used in a garage, with the door open if need be. Anyone have a link to a simple, sturdy set-up they've used with success?
 
I've used a multi-brick forge (with a rounded center). Sort of like a big one-brick, but heated by a 3/4" venturi burner. Rounded out the inside, then further rounded it when I put satanite in it, then coated with ITC-100. Heats up within a few minutes, and then gets very even throughout. I don't have a pic, but it's two bricks on the bottom, one on each side, and then two more on top. However, after the first firing, the satanite cracked where the bricks met up top, and it widens as the forge heats up (to as thick as a nickel, maybe, shrinking back down as it cools). Because of that, I can't recomend the multi-bricks thing, because for a little more trouble you could just make a regular metal bodied forge.
 
I use a 1 and a 1-1/2 brick forge with great results. The trick is to drill all the way through one of the bricks and only half way into the second brick. I use two full bricks for this. I used satanite to bond them together. The burner hole should not be more that half way into the first brick. I drilled mine about 1/4 of the way from the front. This helps to maintain the temperature at the front opening. I use hard fire bricks underneath and on the opposite side of the burner and on top. This serves two purposes. One it makes it very stable. "Wouldn't want your forge falling on the floor". And two it allows the softer bricks to cool down more evenly so they do not crack as much. I can usually get 6 to 8 months out of one fire brick doing it this way. You can build metal forge but if you want to keep the expense down this is the way. I get soft bricks for around $2.50 a brick and the hard bricks I paid something like a dollar, but the hard bricks are a one time buy.
 
Excellent Kiahs! Thank you. And to all of you for your replies. I have a question about how you guys are using these. Like fer instance, the one in that link, do you just suspend the kinfe through the hole and somehow keep it suspended, or are you putting the blank right on the forge floor?

One more, the point of this whole thing is to heat the whole blade to an equal temp right? Then you control which area gets how hard by the quench method, right? Are you purposely trying to keep the tang partially out of the forge to give it less heat?
 
First one. But which ever one, is the object to keep the steel off the floor of the forge? If so, how? Hang it?
 
Most of us tongs to hold the blade while it heats. It doesn't take long to heat up. Any thing that keeps the blade off the floor works fine, read some of the other threads about forges.

I control my differential hardening through the use of a heat resistant clay.
 
Wow. It seems like every answer only brings more questions. Now I have a link with all the forge plans I could ever want, and I have to choose between gas or charcoal! And we're adding clay to the mix. There is more to this than you'd think!

Any chance any of our experienced knife makers here are in the Western PA (Pittsburgh) area? I'd love to watch someone actually put some of this into practice.
 
A forge for most knife making purposes is a tube of metal, lined with an insulating layer, then coated with a hard heat protective lining. The usual dimensions are about 8-12" round pipe by 12 to 16" long. The insulation is Kao-wool. The heat protective lining is usually satanite.To this insulated tube you add a burner. The choices are venturi or forced air (blown). All this material and all the info you need is at Darren Ellis' site:
http://forgegallery.elliscustomknifeworks.com/

If you are going to build a forge, make a good one.
Yes, you can carve a hole in a brick and stick in a plumbers torch, but to tell the truth that is sort of like doing a tracheotomy with a pocket knife and a ball point pen - yes, you can do it, but it is much better and easier with the right tools.Unless $20 is your entire forge budget, don't build a one brick forge.

There is a great learning weekend on May 17&18, in Maryland, at the Blacksmith Guild of Central Maryland's annual Blacksmith Days. Deker will be forging all weekend, along with other makers. You should go.Here is the link.
http://www.bgcmonline.org/docs/bsd08.html
Stacy
 
Thanks for the info Stacy. So you prefer the gas versions to the coal or charcoal ones? I guess gas would be less messy and faster to heat up? I assure you, I will make a nice forge. I tend to over engineer everything. It may not end up pretty, but it will be strong, I promise you that! Thats why I ask all the questions. I haven't even ordered steel yet (And dont even get me started on making THAT choice!) Before I start making chips fly, I like to have my plan and gear all set up. If I decide to try my own heat treat, I'll have a working forge before steel ever hits grinder.

I may have to think about the Blacksmith Guild weekend. Depends on lots of things if I can get away that weekend. But the 18th is my birthday, so maybe I can use that as leverage to talk the wife into letting me take a vacation!
 
Gas is easy, coal is smelly and messy, charcoal isn't smelly but you'll spend a lot of time tinkering with the fire rather than forging.

Not much point in having a forge unless you plan on heat treating your own blades. :D
 
Your wife will love the Blacksmiths Days. There are all sorts of demonstrations on ornamental iron and bronze work (amazing flowers and trees). There is sheep shearing, and wool weaving,Horse shoeing competitions, farrier events, and all sorts of entertainment and demos.The entire Carroll County Farm Museum is a great visit (that is where the event is held). It's not just hammers and anvils.The tailgating, silent auction,and "Iron in the Hat" (sort of like a monster raffle) are worth the weekend alone. There are nearly as many women there as there are men (maybe more?) Many of the demonstrators are very talented female metal artists. Try and not miss this event.
Stacy
 
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