Forgeless fuss.

[Work-In-Progress]

I have been haveing forge problems, mainly not having one. The last one I had was a house brick and dirt forge on the ground, and it worked great, untill it broke. Now I am trying to make one, one thats off the ground, but I have no weilder, few tools, and a dump with tons of scrap that could work if I only had a welder. I picked up a propane grill that would make a great small forge, but I have no way to make it into one. I was thinking of just cutting a hole in the bottom and bolt a tweir on it but the thing would burn itself up. Then I saw the Wheel forge 2 Blueprint and thought that would be perfect, though the river by my house is mostly rock. Now I need help, does anyone have a suggestion to a forge that could be made with my status, should I continue my serch for clay? If so, can anyone give me tips on locating some in a river? Or, should I cut my losses and go back to a brick and dirt forge, this time with fire bricks.

Also, I should mention I have about no experiance in forge work, only a few books. Along with that I have no anvil, only a rail road track plate (those plates the tracks rest on and the spikes are drove through into the tie.) I only flatened a rail road spike head and a failed attempt at drawing one out to a good point. Soon I plan on getting an anvil of any sort, even if it's an ASO. Hey, its a start right?

[Candidquality]

you can get clay from the local wal-mart. the real cheap kitty litter is nothing but a decent clay for firepot lining. just let it soak in water for about a week and you'll be on your way. only a buck or two normally. Don't forget to check out the rest of the blueprints, and be safe.

[Work-In-Progress]

yeah, I know about the kitty litter thing, its bentonite clay. When I was reserching foundrys many said on their forums that it wasn't really good for a furnace for melting aluminum, but fire clay was the popular clay used. However I cant get fire clay around where I live. I have looked over the blue prints, but I could have over looked something.

safety is always in my mind, trust me, I dont want to end missing a hunk of flesh.

[Archie Zietman]

Here's what I did for a long time: Take a big wooden box (like, 2 or more feet long each side, and maybe 1/2 foot to a foot deep) nail 2 by fours onto the sides to raise it off the floor like a table, fill it with dirt, and to the same dirt'n brick forge as before. Works great.
alsoalsoalsoalso!!!!!!!!! For an anvil, take a 7 or 10 lb sledgehammer, stick it striking face up in a big bucket of concrete, and make sure the concrete covers and fills the hole for the handle. Leave it tae dry and there you have a very decent anvil. I used a hammer head I got for free from a scrap pile along the road, and a 1/2 gallon paint bucket and the cheapest cement I could find. I can move metal far easier than I can with my 50 lb fisher.
take the railroad plate, and use the holes for a hardy and pritchel holes.
good luck!
Merry being,
Archie

[mike-hr]

It sounds like you're hardwired with a fair amount of self motivation and initiative. I would suggest: buy a welder and take a class at the local community college to learn to use it, It's a skill you won't regret learning. Also, find and join the local smithing club, guild, etc. Local is a perspective thing, i often drive 4-7 hrs to local hammer-ins, You'll more than pay for the gas getting with folks that can help you get some technique in a weekend, as opposed to the difficult self taught road.

[Work-In-Progress]

Arcghie: that is a great idea, i'll have to try it.
mike: as much as i would love to buy a welder I dont have the money. I only have a summer job with half a week left before school. i'll have about 600 dollars left from the job and 450 of that is going into drivers ed. (WAY TOO EXPENSIVE!!!) and I hope to buy a cheap anvil and whip together a cheap forge. I want to go to "local" event but I nether have the car nor easy rides to get to them. I live in the most unfortuate place, with the most unfortunate luck, and the most unfortunate anything for this, but I wont give up!

[Mills]

What Archie recommended is the very type of forge that my grandfather used. It is effective and cheap. Ditto on the sledge hammer head.

[RegionalChaos]

If you take a welding class at the local community college, you can use their welders for stuff. I took an arc welding class, we spent 3 or 4 hours every Saturday welding. I know they wouldn't care if you ended up working on your own project. Also, if you are going to college, look into their crafts program. The local college here has a large crafts program that has tools people can use for free. Tools like plasma cutters and welders. They actually have a nice new anvil I here, but its inside and there is no forge..

[ThomasPowers]

Dang my old tombstone welder cost me US$40---I could make that back mowing a couple of lawns on weekends.

I've also build a forge from a brake drum using no welding but some drilling and bolting and getting all the parts free/scrounged or used at the fleamarket.

Now as to the kitty litter clay---forges built using it have been good enough for people who support themselves bladesmithing; how good does it have to be? (they mix it with wood ashes, check out "wash-tub forges" at neo-tribal websites.) (also built with no welding...)

[Glenn]

BP0232 Side Blown Forge is nothing more involved than finding a short section of 1-/4 inch pipe and pushing some air through it.

A brand new Lincoln buzz box at the Box store last weekend was $265. NEW!! That is a small investment into a piece of equipment that will serve you well for many many years. That is the same welder Thomas found used for $40 used. Another blacksmith on this forum found one in a trash dumpster costing him only replacing the welding leads.

It would help to know where you are located so we can make suggestions as to where you can look for materials. Or tell us what materials are available to you.