Toolworks

Thanks for the input. Most forge threads seem to be about the forge itself, but honestly, it's the chimney that gets me. A wood stove has to have double walled pipe, and they get to what, maybe 800 degrees? A forge welding fire pretty much flashes hair off the backs of my hands. I've heard it said that a forge chimney runs much cooler than a wood stove chimney, but does it? A forge chimney does have a much bigger displacement---but the fire is so much hotter. A masonry forge would be cool; but that starts to be a much bigger question than just what kind of forge to make; once I make one of those, I doubt I'll ever relocate or anything again. Although who knows. I'm sure you just build another one if you ever need to.

Our insurance is interesting because they completely cared about the wood stove we just put in the house, but they don't care at all about a wood stove or forge going into my detached shop. It struck me as kind of odd; I mean, I half expected the guy to fill his pants when I said I need to put a forge in my shop. But all they cared about was the house. I have serious reservations about using HVAC for any of the chimney; it's so thin. So I guess I wonder what people use. So many people use metal forges. Unfortunately, triple walled pipe isn't something I can afford right now. My shop building is very tall, too. The roof is easily 20' at its peak. Whateve the chimney is made of, it's going to be very tall. It would probably cost me less to build a masonry forge than to buy triple walled stainless. I'm trying to think, I've been to Touchstone and to the John Campbell Folk School; I don't remember what their forge chimneys were made of. But I don't think it was stainless; I could be wrong, but I don't recall them being shiny like stainless. Or maybe Touchstone's was. I can't remember. It's been too long. I suppose you could weld up a chimney from heavier gauge steel; but man that would be an awful lot of steel to luck into at the scrap yard. Maybe I'll think more about a masonry forge. The metal forge was appealing because I can take it with me if I ever move. If I go to the trouble to build a masonry forge, I doubt I ever move.

OK, so I'm in the planning stages of building a forge in my new shop. My old blacksmithing setup involved working at a forge that sat in my driveway, so I didn't need a chimney (and yes, my neighbors threw a block party when I moved). I'm thinking my new forge will likely be made of steel, not masonry. Here are my questions. I've read in multiples places about people using galvanized HVAC materials for their chimneys. Is it actually safe to use galvanized metal like that? Won't it get hot enough to release zinc fumes? I also have read in multiple places that forge chimneys do not get as hot as fireplace or wood stove chimneys. Is that true? When you make your chimney from single walled pipe, what sort of clearance do you shoot for to combustibles, like where the pipe passes through the ceiling or roof? I just got done installing a wood stove in our house; the regulations involved there were really rather strict. It seems like it would be very easy to create a fire hazard with a forge chimney. Thanks in advance for any thoughts. They are much appreciated.