Steve Shimanek

I think it would work; I did something similar on my propane forge. I used a soft firebrick for the floor and set it in and covered it with Mizzou.The Mizzou seems to have a different thermal mass but once up to heat should work, as mine works ok though probably at less efficiency. I have a used Valley forge that has a similar issue to yours....I scraped out all the old flux and slag I could and am thinking about whether to try to fill in or not. Try it and let us know how it worked.

Nice tool!

An ulu for the wife from plow steel; a bowie type with milo wood handle; the propane forge v.2 with adjustable stock rest and modified burners. I will have to take a few photos of some of the tongs and stuff; don't have any on disc yet. If this is too much, just holler "STOP!!!" :)

This is the propane forge i built over the Xmas break; 1 inch fiber coated in a refractory mortar, which failed soon after this photo was taken. I relined with my leftover Mizzou and the forge is still functioning well.

Here was a camp type knife I made about a year ago; I have since reground the handle to eliminate the hump on top so it flows better. I also picked up a real anvil, a 120 lb JHM , about the same time as I started getting guidance from a local farrier/blacksmith.

Thanks Frosty and everybody; i am fortunate to have a scrap metal yard that lets me go out and pick out stuff....for the post anvil they loaded me up with the wheel loader and I left a $20 for the aloha of it. They don't charge set fees, just whatever you offer since they have to pay to ship the stuff off island. I find cool stuff every time i can get over there. These pictures are of the place i lived before moving where I am now, and my first attempt at a Japanese tanto style blade. This was about a year and a half ago, more or less.

After my first early efforts on a cast iron pos anvil; I upgraded to a post anvil which in its former life was an excavator demolition bit; this photo was a little over 2 years ago. An awesome anvil. it still resides just outside the back door of my garage.Weight is unknown but it gets heavier every time I move; current estimate is around 500 pounds.

This is a shot of my first forge and one of my first RR spike knives, taken about 3 years ago when I started. The forge body was someone's throw away BBQ grill; I lined it with local clay and coated with Mizzou refractory, and used charcoal and/or wood for fuel. A 3/4" pipe with 1/4 " holes served as the tuyere, and a hair dryer served as the air source; a "T" fitting with a damper regulated the air flow. I used the forge (with one reline) for the last 3 years until I built my first propane forge from a R134 Freon can last Xmas. I will add more photos as time permits. Aloha, Steve

I will work on getting some photos posted when i can.....thanks for the welcome.

Aloha, Steve from Kauai here; I am a beginning smith and recently discovered IForgeIron through Don Fogg's website. I have been learning for about 3 years now, at first on my own, and for the last several months under the guidance of Ted Shanks. I have been learning some basic techniques and practicing hammer control. I started with a home made charcoal forge, built a propane forge and burners last Christmas, and have been buying and making tools. I see many talented people here and i thank you for the opportunity to view your posts and learn more about this great endeavor.

I learned how to TIG weld mild steel; that aluminum is forgeable; that you should never put your hand on the foot pedal of an air hammer to steady yourself while working on the next machine over; how to make a wizard head handle; how to make Jim Poor style tongs; how to heat treat S7; the difference having a hammer that "hits" makes; and that having a world class teacher within 25 miles from my house is priceless. (Thanks Ted!)Now if weekends were only longer........

Sorry if this is a sidetrack from the OP, but i live on Kauai and have found some material that looks like wrought iron but is pretty hard under the hammer like a tool steel; does anyone have any info on old steel like this? This stuff was from plantation days, late 1800s to early/mid 1900s. Thanks, Steve

I saw some of this type of engine at the World Ag Expo in Tulare, CA last week....never saw or heard of them before; pretty funny for an engine guy! Early 1900's technology....wow!