Dan.2009

Hey - the wooden top lasted two hours... long enough for the event. I'm working on an angle iron/firebrick top now...

I understand that a wood forge with metal pot isn't the most durable combination. I chose wood for a couple of reasons... As a period demonstrator smith, most of my smithing involves nails, J-hooks, S-hooks, pokers, simple forks etc. This forge will only be used a few weeks out of the year for special events. For most of my forging, including anything really involved, I use my work forge (I work at Storrowton Village Museum in West Springfield, MA) The blacksmith shop there is all stone, built in the early 1850's with a stone forge and a huge double chamber bellows. There are about 6 anvils, some excellent swage blocks and a wide variety of tools. This little thing is just for fun. Wood is easily replaced when it burns out. Simply unscrew the wood and replace it. Eventually, I would like to put a network of angle iron and firebrick. Right now though, I just didn't need something that involved.

Here is my first charcoal forge - just have to finish the bellows and the air pipe. The fire pot is a brake drum off an old F350 axle... the bellows support is made from landscaping timbers.