To build or not to build

N

Noobhammer

Joined
Nov 20, 2006
Messages
14
High Im new to the custom knife scene im still finishing up my first knife.
and well ill be buying a propane forge in oh the next 2-3 months.
besides all my grinders/sanders i have almost a whole work shop built.
but those i can always get access to at a friend of mines who is teaching
me anyway. now the question i have is should i or should i not build a
little simple coal forge which i have no exp with till i get my propane forge.
ive been fiending to bang steel stince ive started the work on my first knife.

if anyone can give me their imput and maybe some links on a cheap simple way
of making a coal forge and some info on maintaining and using it.

thankyou

And heres scan'd image of that first knife i keep talkin about

1456026517_l.jpg
 
Well, what was your reason for choosing propane over coal to begin with? There's nothing wrong with either for forging, but obviously something pushed you in the direction of gas. Assuming that it wasn't anything like "the HOA will sue me" or something similarly limiting, there's no reason not to burn coal. I personally think there is a place for coal and gas both in a shop. I've had to go the gas route and leave my firepot cold for the time being because I can't afford the chimney pipe for the coal forge in my new shop (10" pipe is hard enough to FIND, much less AFFORD when you need 17 feet of it. I found it in stainless and even with a hefty discount it was upwards of $1k in chimney pipe). Eventually I'll have both running, but it's gas for me for now.

-d
 
well im goin with gas for couple reasons but mainly cuz thats what im learning on. also gas is faster. i turn on the propane light wait 4-5 mins for good messure and im ready to go. but like i said im fiending to bang some metal.
 
Doing good.:D :D I have a forge building tutorial on my site. If you need help give me a call. I also have Hammer-Ins here a few times a year.
 
thx george. As far as building propane im not considering that. ive seen some nice forges in a holiday price range =) plus my birthday is right after xmas so ill be ordering a decent little forge. but thought a bucket coal forge might keep the the shakes off. =) i hope by next yr this time i can posting pic's of a pretty cheap but decent starter shop and a few imagination inspired knives and in
4-5 yrs a few swords. and if you saying im doin good its just more fuel to the fire so to speak.
 
I began with a coal forge built from a truck tire rim. Starting with a coal forge is perfectly acceptable. I now use a propane forge, but only because it is so convenient. It is also much cleaner. I have to move all of my equipment out onto the back patio to forge, and moving a coal forge in and out of the shop would be quite messy. I have all of my equipment on wheels now, and just wheel it out, forge, heat treat, play, and then wheel it all back in when I'm done. Even my anvil is on wheels, if you consider a round section of heavy tree trunk a wheel. I just flip it on it's side and wheel it to the side of the house. The anvil is slid onto a wheeled table and pushed back into the shop to keep it from rusting. So, basically, I say go for it. Make a simple coal forge (inexpensive) and start learning now.
 
If you buy a forge as you said and its propane, make sure its suitable for knifemaking. Many farrier or normal blacksmith forges ive seen are square with top-down burners, which will leave you with cold spots that you wont want in knifemaking. Youre better off with a circular forge where the burner intersects to create a swirling heat inside. George built me mine and it rocks!
 
TikTock said:
If you buy a forge as you said and its propane, make sure its suitable for knifemaking. Many farrier or normal blacksmith forges ive seen are square with top-down burners, which will leave you with cold spots that you wont want in knifemaking. Youre better off with a circular forge where the burner intersects to create a swirling heat inside. George built me mine and it rocks!
Click to expand...

I second the comments about round vs. square forge. I got mine from Darren Ellis and it's pretty darned nice too.

-d
 
as i study more about heat and everything i found my self lookin at round.
i would make my self but i dont have the day to day access to a welder.
i have access just not day to day access."you know my own" and well
ive never welded before. ive always wanted to. i found a round one on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Blacksmith-Poor...ryZ13869QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem
now i like this accept for the fact it has no back door. which even with just one knife under my belt i find my self wanting. now some on here said george made theirs but whats the price like. Price is a big thing for me being that im just under 22 yrs of age living with my parents. i pay rent and only work little bullcrap jobs right now.
 
Maybe you can beg him to let you play with his welder and sweetass tools at a hammerin....look out though, he might want a kiss!! :P :P
 
Noobhammer said:
ive never welded before. ive always wanted to. i found a round one on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Blacksmith-Poor...ryZ13869QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem
now i like this accept for the fact it has no back door.
Click to expand...

One thing I notice about that forge in the ebay auction is that the burners are firing straight down. The point (IMHO) of having a round forge interior is so that you can set the burner(s) up tangental to the circle of the forge housing and get a nice vortex of heat inside the forge. Burners firing straight down are likely to leave you with the same hot spots as a square forge. Take a look at the forge gallery that Darren Ellis has available at http://refractory.elliscustomknifeworks.com/ You'll notice that many of the burner entries are not pointing straight into the center of the forge body for exactly this reason. As far as a rear opening on the forge, just stack some firebrick against the back and forget it. It'll keep the heat in and allow you to easily open up the rear of the forge if you have a long piece to work on.

My forge from Darren cost $420 and was worth every penny. Excellent quality. That being said, not necessarily within the realm of "cheap" for a person starting out. If you can convince IG to help you with the welding bit at a hammerin at his place that'd probably be your best bet for a high-quality, low-cost forge. Heck, if you can scrounge the pieces I bet a local welding shop wouldn't charge much to just do up some welds for you.

Necessity is the mother of invention, and budget is the father...

-d
 
Noobhammer said:
as i study more about heat and everything i found my self lookin at round.
i would make my self but i dont have the day to day access to a welder.
i have access just not day to day access."you know my own" and well
ive never welded before. ive always wanted to. i found a round one on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Blacksmith-Poor...ryZ13869QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem
now i like this accept for the fact it has no back door. which even with just one knife under my belt i find my self wanting. now some on here said george made theirs but whats the price like. Price is a big thing for me being that im just under 22 yrs of age living with my parents. i pay rent and only work little bullcrap jobs right now.
Click to expand...
I can help you build one and it should cost around $150.;)
 
well george xmas is comin up and like i said i share the same birthday as elvis
jan 8th so i mean yah you give me a parts list and price and i figure in a few weeks i can send you the cash and then pick it up when its done. Of course
ill send you the money first. give me a chance to see a nice shop and have a
nice chat. 150 sounds cheaper then everyone else.
 
Noobhammer said:
well george xmas is comin up and like i said i share the same birthday as elvis
jan 8th so i mean yah you give me a parts list and price and i figure in a few weeks i can send you the cash and then pick it up when its done. Of course
ill send you the money first. give me a chance to see a nice shop and have a
nice chat. 150 sounds cheaper then everyone else.
Click to expand...

Listen!!! I share the same birthday with Richard Nixon Jan 9th.:eek: :eek: You didn't understand me.:confused: I said I would help you, not make it for you. You would have to come here after you get all the parts and I would do the cutting and welding and you would do all the sanding and grinding.;) :D
 
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