284 replies to this topic

[welder19]

Thanks Steve, I have thought about the cut out for long stock but just havn't decided how I want to do it yet, I actually thought about cutting the lip off of the entire corner and reinforcing underneath, I usually over think everything and put it off as long as I can so I don't do it and then wish I had done it different but usually do any way.

welder19

[Timekiller]

I built this forge 2 weeks ago, and have used it twice so far. It works great. I went from a junk BBQ forge to this, what a difference. The firepot is actually a cast Iron floor drain flange from the local home improvement store (big orange) $17! I thought the stepping stones would crack from the heat, but both forging sessions were 5+hrs, so I guess they will be ok.

Small fire, and it was the end of my session...

firepot:

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[matt87]

Nicely done Timekiller. I love thinking outside the box... which is somethign we have to/should do as blacksmiths! :D My charcoal forge is a 9" stainless steel bowl with a hole punched in the side for the tuyere (was once part of a shopping trolley). Lined with ashes and such, it works just fine for me! Kinda like a ground forge but above ground. Will get some pictures tomorrow when I have it lit.

[Timekiller]

matt, that sounds pretty sweet. And, yes I think part of being a Blacksmith and/or machinist, is being a good pack-rat and being "resourceful"

[matt87]

As promised, a pic of my ghetto forge.


The air draught is provided by the blue and black air pump in the foreground (designed for inflating infalteables I think) and elbow grease. The lagest stock I've used in it s far is 1"x1/4" mild (as in this photo) and it can get it to yellow if you're patient. The bowl cost £1 and the tuyere was once the handle of a shopping trolley from Boots the chemist -- I found it on a bit of wasteland near my home. Most of the glavy had been burnt off when someone put the trolley in a fire. I run it on lumpwod charcoal.

[Timekiller]

Matt, looks good!

[Sabre]

well i have seen manny post like show me you anvil flypress swage and more but never seen show me your forge.
so lets see it.

heres mine... its a steel table lined with bricks with a smal brake routor in it...
i am currently making one with a real firepot and table for my shop!

This has been combined with another thread on the same subject.

hey Glenn....
thanks for combinin my post with this one!

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[nett]

http://www.iforgeiro...ge-gasser-3900/
http://www.iforgeiro...olid-fuel-3899/

[bruce wilcock]

in the uk ,as a young man the workshop was called the Forge ,in the industreal areas the fire was called the Hearth, , in the country the shop was called the smithy, and again the fire was the Hearth, if it was built into the shop ,we spoke of the smithy being built around the Hearth , a blacksmiths forge usualy was free standing and in a workshop doing other things ,around the mid 60s with the decline of men doing all there work in the fire ,to speak of the hearth fell into decline, and nowdays very few dont use the word Forge .

[Dan W]

My forge is a copy of the one Time Lively uses. Best picts are on his site.

[CurlyGeorge]

The first one is the forge that I use when doing living history demos at Lincoln Log Cabin Historic Site (Abe's Father's last home site), Lerna, ILL. It is built on the order of an old artillary cart forge, with a 4 foot long 2 stage bellows. It's a lot of fun to work with.
Lincoln_Log_Cabin_8-4_5-_07_014 - Blacksmith Photo Gallery

The second is my shop forge, at home. Nothin' fancy, but it works for me. The hood is just barely visible at the top of the picture.. It goes out a 12in X12in roof vent.
My meager shop - Blacksmith Photo Gallery

[civilwarblacksmith]

Hey Mark,

How close to period correct is your forge cart? Just wondering.

[civilwarblacksmith]

This is the Colonial style brick forge I use at the Homestead.


This one dates from 1880 to 1910. Belt driven crank blower.


This one date a little earlier than the crank forge. It is a belt driven rachet/pump forge.

I have another but it has not been put together yet. It is a 2 1/2' x 4' cast bowl type with either a coal resevoir on the front or it is for water. No blower as of yet but heavy as the dickens.

[CurlyGeorge]

Hey Reb. I am not positive on the exact time period for the cart. It's owned by the state Historical society. They built it from plans that they got from, I think the said, S Carolina. I think that it was revolutionary war time period. At the site, we portray the year 1845.

Edited by CurlyGeorge, 04 July 2008 - 06:15 PM.
Adding a date.

[civilwarblacksmith]

Thanks Curly,

I knew the Rev War style was a cart mounted forge, but I have never seen one. That could work for the 1840 impression at the Martin Log Cabin circa 1820.

[CurlyGeorge]

We're going to the site Tommorrow and Sunday. I'll try to find out more info and maybe see if I can get the plans. If I can, I'll let you know and make arrangements to get them to you.

[civilwarblacksmith]

Hey!! That would be great.

Thanks

[geofthesmith]

done some modifications since this pic but its pretty much the same.

[Lefty]

Here are a few shots of my forge. Picked it up at a flea market about 9 years ago.

Lefty

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[strube1369]

Yeah, that's a pretty fancy yellow vacuum cleaner (in reverse mode...) I use as a sorta bellows!

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