Next step -- a small forge

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pmeisel

Joined
Jul 29, 2012
Messages
161
I've been dipping my toe into the hobby by assembling a few kits, sharpening everything in sight, and regrinding a couple old and badly abused blades I came across.

Now I want to make a few blades from scratch. I was thinking coffee can forge, but before I got a coffee can, my son-in-law scored me a couple pieces of iron pipe, 6" ID, about 15" long.

My thought is to build legs similar to coffee can forge, and drill a hole for the torch before putting in the kaowool etc. Or maybe set the pipe in a nest of firebrick...

Anybody suggest a good source for small amounts of kaowool and refractory cement?

Also -- how should I block off the back of the pipe? Piece of steel? Bricks?

Thanks in advance for helping a newbie along....
 
Do you have any pottery places around ya. They usually can sell ya kaowool or similar and usually carry some kind of refactory cement or castable refractory. Some may even carry something similar to itc100 which helps alot.

Personally I would use bricks for the front and back doors unless you have a welder available. Even then you will probably be rebuilding it into a larger unit down the road if you like forging.
 
Thanks, guys. There is a pottery gallery in downtown Charleston, and an art bazaar that has some potters. I'll check that out!

Also checked out the the hightemptools site. I am on my way. Next -- arrange the proper work space!
 
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I wouldn't permanently block off the back opening. It'll make working longer pieces more difficult. I'd suggest stacking up firebrick to block it off; you can always re-arrange if you need to. Heck with pieces of pipe that long, it'd be tempting to build several smaller forges that can be linked together to make a long one; modular gas forge design! :)
 
Look in the stickies on forge building, as well as look at the forge gallery on the hightemptools site. You will get lots of ideas how to build them from those photos.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/782574-PID-CONTROL-FORGE-Salt-Pots-and-more

The burner is the most important part, so I would suggest you build one from the parts kits offered by HTT or buy a pre0 made burner from them or Zoeller.
http://zoellerforge.com/

The collar that the burner slips in isn't just a hole in the pipe, it is a piece of pipe (usually 1" or 1.25") welded to the forge shell. The angle it is welded at will determine how well the forge works. It DOES NOT go straight in on the radius. It should go in at the tangent to the inner walls of the lining, and be placed about 1/3 the way forward from the back at a 15° forward angle. This will make the flame swirl around the inside of the forge from the back to the front.
 
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