Burns31 Posted August 19, 2014 Share Posted August 19, 2014 Hi all, I'm getting started in blacksmithing and I have some safety concerns I wanted to ask about. I'm building my forge based on this guide: http://www.stormthecastle.com/blacksmithing/how-to-make-an-easy-cheap-blacksmith-forge.htm My fire pot is made out of a lawn mower cover flipped over to contain my charcoal. That is going to be attached to a brake drum that I drilled holes in for the screws to hold eveything together. The pipe that I'm hooking up the blow dryer to is black steel pipe from home depot. This is going to be attached to the brake drum with a pipe flange. What I was wondering is if I need to scrape off the paint on the pipes and on the lawn mower cover, or if I need to be worried using stainless steel nuts and bolts to hold everything together getting hot and giving off anything nasty. I was very careful about getting nothing that is galvanized, and I was hoping you all could give me some advice. Thanks for any help you can give! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 Not too impressed with that forge. If you are interested in bladesmithing using charcoal may I commend to your attention the Tim Lively Washtub Forge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmccustomknives Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 As far as it goes, the paint will burn off pretty fast. You'll get more burns from the "fireflies", so wear your PPE (personal protective equipment) you know, safety glasses, gloves and long sleeved fire retardant shirt (you'll thank me later). Make sure there's no flammable materials nearby. Have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 Welcome aboard Burns31, glad to have you. If you put your general location in the header you might be surprised how many of the IFI gang live within visiting distance. Forget that design, there are a number in the solid fuel forge section of IFI. The paint will burn off fast enough you don't need to worry about it, though if you are, build a good roaring wood fire in it and that'll take care of it. There are a couple other little details that jumped out at me and I only scanned the link. That is NOT a brake DRUM as labeled, that's a disk rotor and will work a treat but it's just one of many things they have fundamentally wrong. Another thing that's fundamentally, dangerously BAD engineering is the WAY too long horizontal air supply. That design is a serious trip hazard and when your forge is a serious trip hazard it's a serious fire and burn hazard. Just ask yourself if you want to trip over something with a HOT fire burning and have that fall on you before it lights the area on fire? Stick with us brother we'll get you up and forging safely. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burns31 Posted August 20, 2014 Author Share Posted August 20, 2014 Should I scrape the paint off? I'm wondering if the fumes are harmful. Also, will my stainless steel screws give off any harmful fumes? As for the forge's design: I know it's not the best, but I've already invested a lot of time and effort getting all these pieces together. I am primarily interested in bladesmithing, and hopefully will work my way up to long blades in the future. As for the trip hazard, I'm hoping to set things up so that the horizontal pipe is completely out of the way. I'm also taking a look at some other designs on this site. Thanks again for your advice, and I appreciate any more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmoothBore Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 Should I scrape the paint off? I'm wondering if the fumes are harmful. Also, will my stainless steel screws give off any harmful fumes? As for the forge's design: I know it's not the best, but I've already invested a lot of time and effort getting all these pieces together. As for the trip hazard, I'm hoping to set things up so that the horizontal pipe is completely out of the way. #1 - Work in a well ventilated area, and just let the paint burn off. #2 - No, Stainless Steel is the best possible choice for this hardware. #3 - If you consider that, "a lot of time and effort", ... maybe you should look for a less arduous hobby ..... #4 - Why not just correct the poor design features, ... rather than endlessly compensate for them ? Things that are worth doing, ... are worth doing right. "Quick & Easy" is very rarely synonymous with "Best Practices". It's taken me a lifetime of "Fast & Dirty" solutions, to fully recognize the value of dependable, efficient equipment and a well ordered workspace. You don't need to invest a lot of MONEY in your Shop, ... but it's ESSENTIAL that you invest thought and effort. ------------------------------------------- There are plenty of video's around, of guys using a hole in the ground for a firepot, and piling uo cement blocks or chunks of wood for a work surface. This proves that you CAN work under those conditions. It does NOT prove thart you SHOULD, ... or that the quality of your work won't suffer, as a result of those primative conditions. As you age, you'll come to understand that TIME is much more valuable than money, ... and time that's squandered, fooling around with a sub-standard workplace, can NEVER be regained. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beammeupscotty Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 Wow! I must say I am quite impressed with the quality of advice being offered in this thread. I mean that quite sincerely. Frosty and smoothbore in particular are both spot on. Listen to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borntoolate Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 If you are 90% of the way there then finish what you got. Light it off and see for yourself. See how much heat you can get and so on... Test your forge and try not to be disappointed if it is not what you wanted. Rather. Use it as best you can, experiment, learn, forge something... Maybe not a knife... Find it's limitations and strengths.... Move forward from there. Keep moving forward... Turn any frustration or disappointment into learning and moving forward. You can get there. It may take some time but you can get there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borntoolate Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 oh You should be safe for the most part if you wear some good safety glasses along with the other tips above. Dont get in a hurry. IF you get irritated, stop, and come back the next day,,, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Rabbit Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 I do have to disagree a bit. I have a forge of very similar design, brake drum (an actual drum, not a rotor) welded to an inverted lawn mower deck as a table. 3 inch pipe for air flow and a stand. Could it be better, yes. But especially for someone just starting out, it will work. Making hooks and small projects. I've even made 2 knives with mine. In the middle of making a fireplace grate for my in-laws fireplace. If its what you have, work with it. I will agree however that the air inlet pipe is insanely too long and poses not only a trip hazard, but possible instability causing the whole thing to tip over. Take the plans he has, tweak them to make them work safely, and have fun. When you figure out what it is you want to do regarding smithing and you have found the limitations of your forge, redesign and make one more suited to your desires. Just my two cents. ~The Mad Rabbit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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