New Forge Maker . . . Help!

G

GhengisChad

Joined
Dec 11, 2013
Messages
15
To Whom It May Concern,
I made a break drum forge, but I can't seem to get the proper heat I need out of it. I seem to be getting at best 1300 - 1400 degrees or a dull red out of my steel. I really want to be able to get hot enough to forge weld. I don't know if its me making a mistake with the fire or the forge won't get hot enough. Any advice would be most appreciated So my question is, how can I improve my forge or how can I build another one that will get me the heat that I want. I am not picky as to whether its propane or coal. I just want to make a forge for as cheap as possible that will do what I want it to do.
Thanks
GhengisChad
 
We need more info

Photos and a description of what you did


I think propane is the way to go, but chal and charcoal should work.



I have my bets on you having insufficient air flow

Show us what you go, we can't read minds.
 
 
Chad, I don't know why you can't get heat. Might be air (my guess), or might be what you are using for fuel (what is all that mess in the bottom of the drum?). For bladesmithing you need a clean, even fire. No cold spots.
I do know that you will need to either cut slots in the sides of the drum for a pass through, or build your fire high enough to set your material across the top. If you are forging knives, and ever get the thing to welding temps, you will burn the end off your material the way you have it angled in there.
Good luck
 
OK where to start
Charcoal briquets are not a good choice for fuel, you can theoretically get them hot enough to forge with but you need a much bigger pile than you have there
That hair dryer likely does not have enough balls to push enough air through that much narrow pipe and that mess of junk you have blocking the tuyeure
you probably have chunks falling down your tuyeure pipe blocking it further

If you are going to use charcoal (possible but a nuisance) use hardwood lump charcoal and be prepared to use a lot of it
if you are going to use coal, use bituminous sulfur free coal, and use a bigger pile
if you are going to use propane get someone who knows what they are doing to build you a forge or get something like an Atlas so you don't blow yourself up

Read the stickies, there is good information that will help you

-Page
 
Madbug,

Could you elaborate on the burn the end off my material? I believe I've done this already with a piece or steel, I just don't understand why the angle of entry makes this happen, but I will be cutting holes in the side of the drum to help this problem.

Sunshadow,
I had a leaf blower on there at one time but it just seemed to be too much and kept blowing material out of the drum.
 
GhengisChad said:
Madbug,

Could you elaborate on the burn the end off my material? I believe I've done this already with a piece or steel, I just don't understand why the angle of entry makes this happen, but I will be cutting holes in the side of the drum to help this problem.
Click to expand...

Chad, when you get the right material for a fire, coal/coke, that spot where the end of your steel is setting is going to be hot enough to melt it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top