Dave, is the pan cast iron or sheet metal. I have both and only lined the cast iron one. I have since sold it to a friend. He took the 1 day beginner class I teach and now want me to come see his barn/shop and help him find the best location to put it. The sheet metal forge I use for demos is not lined and I have not had any problem with it. But neither of them have a firepot. You would not need to line the firepot only the pan around the pot, that is if it need lining to start with.
I am just about finished with a lever type forge that has a pat. date of April 6, 1886 on it, made by the 'Star Machine Works Co. Buffalo, NY' The blower has 'C.Hammelmann's Pat. April 6, 1886 Buffalo, NY' on the side. I plan to line it this weekend as it is broke all the way across the pan. I have bolted a strip of 1/8" x 1" across the cracks to hold it together and will line it to seal the crack across the bottom. No, it is too burned up in the bottom to weld/braze it back together. Beside, someone attempted that YEARS ago with miserable results.
I plan to sandblast then line the inside and paint this weekend. will post pictures before and after.
Sorry about stealing your thread. But I don't think it matters too much one way or the other about lining it. Maybe someone else will enlighten us both!
