While on a midnight run; I thought to myself: forge sticky.

[Fred.Rowe]

I really enjoy forging at night.
The atmosphere in the smithy is somehow different; it's cooler and quieter, of course;
But there's no disturbance either; No one wanders in to talk; its just you with the machines.
Gas forges seem to run stronger at night also, they sound more throaty as they burn. I know its just an allusion, but -------

The pic is of the Vulcan's Chariot on a midnight run.

Vulcan is the God of the forge. Greek I believe.

I would like to see a sticky for forges somewhere in the makers forum. Anyone else?

I think the sticky would be inspirational to people wanting to build their own forges. Not a how to, just pics of your forge.

Share your forge pictures with us on this thread and see if we can get something started.

Fred

The forge on the right is for heat treating, it has a closed muffle inside it.

It has no name

 

[panch0]

You just made me want one / to make one.

 

[Fred.Rowe]

You just made me want one / to make one.

Great! If yours is the only post, the thread has been a success.

Fred

 

[James_Terrio]

I'm a SR guy but I agree with you about working at night. A lot fewer distractions.

 

[scottickes]

Although this is my current setup, that is likely to change. The wife and I are getting our house ready to sell, so that we can have a place with a Master bedroom on the main floor (her knees aren't what they used to be) and a larger shop for me. That way I'll have a dedicated hot work area in addition to much more room in the shop. You can see the shop in the background on the other side of the deck in the one photo. It's a 12' x 16' addition that I built onto the house a few years back. It's getting kind of cramped. Notice that my forge is one wheels. I have to roll the forge and anvil set up out to the patio right now to do any forging or heat treating and then roll it back in at night. I will be nice to have it set up all the time in a dedicated space!

 

[Karl B. Andersen]

I think a Forge Sticky is a great idea. It would be nice to just post a link whenever someone asks for ideas.
I keep these in Photo Bucket for threads just like this one.
I use my small 8 inch one for forging smaller blades and the larger 12 inch forge for bowies and fighters, pattern welding and heat treating.
Both are forced air and I run them with 3-4#s of air and tweak them with needle valves.

 

[Fred.Rowe]

Thanks guys for posting your forge pics.

Fred

 

[strahd71]

Here are some pics of mine. its not done yet! and i am thinking about the next one already. this set up was origionally for a couple of venturi burners but i have come to see that forced air might be the way to go.

i will finish it as soon as the wife gets done with school again and is back to work!

jake

 

[deker]

I'm going to stick with the "forge at night" theme...It won't help anybody build anything useful, but I love pics like this...

Fire at night! A Bladesmith's delight!

For some things, coal just rules...

Side-effects of forging at night....

-d

 

[WadeH]

Fred does the closed muffle work any better than an open one. I guess I am just asking for the differences. I am currently trying to set up a mufflle system, but it is an open one. I have heard that they cut down on oxidation.

 

[Fred.Rowe]

Here are some pics of mine. its not done yet! and i am thinking about the next one already. this set up was origionally for a couple of venturi burners but i have come to see that forced air might be the way to go.

i will finish it as soon as the wife gets done with school again and is back to work!

jake

Nice fabricating job on your forge. I hope to see pics of the finished creation.
Both of my forges are blown; with the addition of an extra gas valve, you can make any forge, into an auto/manual forge. I estimate it adds a 150.00 to the cost, but pays you back with great control.

I'm going to stick with the "forge at night" theme...It won't help anybody build anything useful, but I love pics like this...

Fire at night! A Bladesmith's delight!
Side-effects of forging at night....


-d

Those are awesome pics. You can feel the warmth coming from the colors.

Am I correct in saying, you run both coke and gas forges?
Thanks for sharing the pictures, Fred

Fred does the closed muffle work any better than an open one. I guess I am just asking for the differences. I am currently trying to set up a mufflle system, but it is an open one. I have heard that they cut down on oxidation.

I am always trying to find ways to cut down on the amount of scale coming off my work. The closed muffle a [3/8" x 4" x 22"] stainless tube was set up to run argon gas, but I have never found the argon necessary. I put the blades in the muffle and let them come up to heat with the forge, give the proper soak time and get ready to quench. They stay scale free inside the muffle.
I don't think it would work to forge out of. To much hassle.
In the VC forge I built in good control over the forge atmosphere and keep it running a hair rich or at a reducing flame to keep the scale at a minumum.
I do know my blades come out of the quench a lot cleaner than they used to.

Fred

 

[Edro20]

Great photos, deker!! Impressive.

 

[strahd71]

Both of my forges are blown; with the addition of an extra gas valve, you can make any forge, into an auto/manual forge. I estimate it adds a 150.00 to the cost, but pays you back with great control.

Fred thank you for the kind words. could you explain what you mean by extra gas valve and what exactly is an auto/manual forge. sorry if this is a stupid question but i'm very much a newbie.

thanks

jake

 

[DustinHall]

That last pic is just awesome, deker! Thanks for sharing.

 

[panch0]

Oh man!!! Those pics are sweet. I am in the process of gathering tools for forging. It may take a while.

-frank

 

[Fred.Rowe]

Here is a good thread on the subject: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=600318&highlight=dual+control+forge

Fred

Fred thank you for the kind words. could you explain what you mean by extra gas valve and what exactly is an auto/manual forge. sorry if this is a stupid question but i'm very much a newbie.

thanks

jake

 

[strahd71]

fred that is an awsome link! i just wish i could make sense of it all.

its cool tho for the time being i cant afford to go beyond where i'm at and i cant even make a knife yet so..... i got time!

thanks

jake

 

[Fred.Rowe]

I would be happy to go over it by phone. The drawing is complex, but the actual building if fairly easy.

My forge just got a little out of hand this system can be a put together a lot more basic.

Pm me if you like, I have an 800 number I can pass along to you.

Fred

 

[strahd71]

fred, thank you for the offer. i will take you up on that next week! i'm working all week end and the start of next week. i work long shifts so i dont get much sleep so its best to wait.

Come on guys show your forges! surely there are more forgers out there!

thanks

jake

 

[Burton Harruff]

I made a trip down to Fred's forge today and had a great time. Moon came over and put together a large chainsaw blade billet that is shown in the pics:thumbup: I got a nice pic of Fred's forge running also I forged out a A2 blade that turned out nice. I am in the (ongoing) process of getting my blown pid controlled forge together and will post up pics soon. Thanks for the day Fred and I will be in touch soon.