Piecing together a coal forge in Iraq?

S

stefanj

Joined
Aug 5, 2007
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I have only forged a couple of knives and was thinking about piecing together a coal forge here in Iraq.
I have never forged with coal before so there is a lot I do not know.
So far I have found coal, a blower for the coal and a tray (almost like a BBQ) for the coal to burn in with an air channel.
I will get a cheap anvil (whatever I can get), hammer and a file.
I am looking at forging some coil springs and some leaf springs if I can get my hands on them.
For quenchant I was thinking about used motoroil or transmission fluid.

Anything else that you can think of or any advice????
I have already sent out an order for some of this stuff.

Thank you,
Stefan
 
So far, in my own amatuer opinion, you seem almost ready to go. I do think you need to line your tray with something like fire brick or fire clay, if you haven't done so already. Otherwise, you could melt through, or even "rot" your metal tray. A few pics of what you have so far would help you get better advice.
 
Some of the armour platted vehicles have good knife steel lmao I shouldnt have said that.
 
Stefan, glad to hear from you man. To bad BW/Xe lost their contract, I have a buddy that's been with them for years and could've gotten some goods to you through him :(

You don't have a motor pool available do you? I'm sure the locals have stripped a lot of the scrap metals available.... if you can find something like an old hydraulic cylinder ram that could be used as an anvil. A sledge hammer out of a pioneer kit could double as an anvil if you can secure it. I'm an old soldier so I do't know if they still use them but the commo nerds should have a sliding weight thingy to drive home ground rods for antennas, well at least they used to back in the days of "real" antennas. That could be used as an anvil too.

Forge: is the sand in that region like in the Saudi deep Northern deserts? If it is you can use that sand and line the forge with it, if they have cheap kitty litter mix that sand, kitty litter and ash in equal amounts and wet it to a thick batter consistency. You can also just dig a hole in the dirt and put your tuyere in it... people have and do forge/smelt in termite mounds :p

Tongs are pliers with tubing jammed down over the handles.

I don't have to remind you but iffen I remember you're an ossifer so you prolly don't know any better

DO NOT HEAT ANYTHING WITH CARC PAINT ON IT!!!!!!! DON"T DO IT!

Shoot me an email to will46r (at) yahoo and I'll try to get a care package up for you. Have you gotten in touch with MAJ Ryan W.? He's supposed to be on an MTT in that region, I know he's an expert at scrounging gear together on deployments.

Edited to add:

Check with your local Civil Affairs NCOIC, tell him what you need and what you're doing, he's either got a good idea of where it's at or may find it while out and about. You may also want to check with your 2 shop guys, they're out and about in town too. Well no, they're not but you know what I mean.
 
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If there is anything vital that you can't get your hands on post it and I'm positive someone will send it to you in a care package. My wife and I send them out pretty regularly anyway so I'll be happy to help out with any necessary supplies that I have on hand.
 
we got lots of extra stuff here, metal a few tools.

also an extra forge sitting in the driveway. would be good for making large knives because it is oblong in shape

cost of shipping is the only thing to keep me from sending this good stuff
buzz
 
Good on you!

The CA link up could be a good idea, get some locals involved and it could be good for everyone.

I knew a guy in OEF who was doing some knife work, not sure what he was doing though. Saw a piece of his work and that ended it for me.

Please keep us posted.
 
The old days you used to start with a brake drum for a forge body. Plug bottom holes and run air into the side.
 
I would not call it knife making if you saw my work!!!!
I am pretty embarassed to have people see what I have done (it is pretty bad).
I have no hammering technique and really haven't built up the knowledge how to really do some good shaping on the forge but this will provide me with the ability to learn (I learn through doing).

The idea about lining the forge will help me out!!!

Things have changed a lot over here. We do not go out in the cities like we used to because of the security agreement. That has cut my access to many supplies!

I wish I could go into detail on what we have here but I can't. The route that I am taking to acquire stuff is the only route I have available if that gives you any ideas.

Thank you for the ideas and the information!!

Will, I'm sending you a email here in about a minute!
 
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